The Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) will soon develop the country’s first 25-year infrastructure masterplan, aiming to ensure the continuity of key projects across different administrations.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the plan, covering 2025 to 2050, is a mandate under the new Economy, Planning and Development Act, which reorganizes NEDA into DEPDev. The law was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on April 10 and takes effect on April 27.
“The law now tasks us to produce the first long-term framework… and to lead the efforts in coming up with this long-term comprehensive infrastructure development framework,” Balisacan said.
He emphasized that this is the first time a government agency is legally required to oversee and push forward long-term infrastructure plans, serving as a bridge between outgoing and incoming administrations.
“In other words, once a long-term infrastructure masterplan is adopted by the Cabinet through DEPDev, it will not be easy for any Cabinet member… to just ignore the presence of such masterplan,” he added.
The initiative aims to prevent political disruptions in project implementation, a recurring issue in the country’s infrastructure development history.