Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito is pushing for the passage of the Masterplan for Infrastructure National Development (MIND) to build a unified, strategic strategy against flooding throughout the Philippines.
In an interview on Sunday, August 30, Ejercito emphasized that the proposed MIND framework would align public and private infrastructure spending while steering the country toward long-term economic growth.
Beyond coordinating project execution, the master plan aims to enforce policy continuity and clearly outline agency roles in major infrastructure ventures.
The lawmaker highlighted that establishing a comprehensive master plan would curb corruption in flood mitigation projects while ensuring resources go directly to vulnerable communities.
“Identified na ‘yung flood prone areas, major river basins, kung sakali mang magkakaroon ng flood control project, dapat within priority ‘yung top 10 flood prone areas sa bansa,” Ejercito noted.
The call comes as Department of Budget and Management (DBM) figures reveal a proposed ₱1.47-trillion allocation for the “Build Better More” program under the ₱7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2027. Under the proposed budget, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive 42.2% of total infrastructure funds, amounting to ₱619.04 billion.
Ejercito urged the government to focus its resources on finishing pending flood control developments and fixing structural gaps in the current system.
“We need to close the gaps. ‘Yung mga puwang na naiwan, dapat saraduhan ng DPWH… ‘Yung mga uncompleted flood control project, kumpletuhin na natin,” the senator urged.