The Senate is currently assessing whether to introduce new legislative guardrails against wasteful infrastructure spending or simply reinforce the national master plan already established by existing law.
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, initiated discussions on four separate versions of the proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act.
Hontiveros emphasized that the legislation must block poorly designed and irregular projects during both the planning and budgeting phases, citing recent controversies involving flood-control expenditures.
“Kapag walang masterplan, walang development plan, ang budget ay nagiging listahan ng mga proyektong hindi nakabatay sa pangangailangan ng komunidad o potensyal ng ekonomiya,” she said.
The bills—separately introduced by Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Erwin Tulfo, and Senate President Win Gatchalian—aim to formalize a 30-year Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan (CIDMP).
These proposals seek to define priorities and standards for major public works, align infrastructure initiatives with the national budget, and clarify agency roles.
However, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Assistant Secretary Roderick Planta pointed out that the proposed bills overlap with Republic Act 12145, also known as the Economy, Planning, and Development Act.
“So sa palagay po namin, meron na pong statutory basis po doon sa paggawa po ng CIDMP,” Planta said.
RA 12145 already mandates that infrastructure agencies submit sectoral plans to be merged into the CIDMP and provides a statutory foundation for long-term development planning.
Additionally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 72 in October 2024, which orders agencies to follow an integrated approach for infrastructure planning, budgeting, and oversight.
Hontiveros indicated that the committee will study how the proposed bills can bolster the safeguards and frameworks already established under existing laws and executive directives.
Defending the proposals, Senator Tulfo argued that cementing the master plan into law is necessary to ensure continuity regardless of political transitions.
“Hindi lamang ito tungkol sa pagtatayo ng mas maraming proyekto. Mas mahalaga ang pagtatayo ng tamang proyekto, sa tamang lugar, sa tamang panahon, at para sa tamang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Tulfo added that implementing long-term planning would minimize duplicate projects, increase transparency, and ensure that vital public works—such as roads, bridges, airports, ports, railways, water systems, and energy facilities—are carried out past political terms.
DepDev has started drafting the National Infrastructure Planning Framework, aiming for a preliminary draft by the end of 2026 and the finalization of the CIDMP by 2027.
Planta noted that the Senate’s ongoing consultations could still serve to refine and strengthen the process despite the current legal framework.