President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved "crucial" projects and guidelines that will support the attainment of his administration's development goals as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said this after Marcos convened the NEDA Board on Friday, June 2.

In a presser in Malacañang, Balisacan said the projects and initiatives Marcos approved supported the country's overall goal of "deep economic and social transformation."

First to be approved was the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project, which, according to Balisacan, was the "fastest unsolicited proposal approval" per the Investment Coordination Committee guidelines. The proposal was submitted on March 17, 2023.

The 59.4-kilometer, four-lane extension highway will connect the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila. It is expected to stimulate economic activity, alleviate road congestion, provide better and safer road access, and promote the development of new growth centers in nearby regions.

The P23.4-billion TPLEX Extension Project will be implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

PPP projects guidelines

The NEDA Board has also confirmed the "Investment Coordination Committee or ICC Guidelines for LGU PPP Projects," which outlines the guidelines and procedures for processing PPP proposals of local government units or LGUs that require ICC action under the Philippine  Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law.

According to Balisacan, the guidelines outline the role of the Regional Development Councils and other local development councils, particularly in ensuring that LGU projects align with national development plans.

"Recognizing the vital role of LGUs in driving economic growth, the guidelines provide a streamlined process for LGUs to pursue PPP projects that require the action by the ICC," he said.

"This initiative aims to empower LGUs and enable them to effectively engage in PPPs that will promote local development and attract investments," he added.

On the other hand, Balisacan said the NEDA Board noted its earlier confirmation ad referendum of the ICC approval of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 's Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up (PRDP Scale-Up).

This P45.01-billion PRDP Scale-Up aims to build on the successes of the original PRDP. Its goal is to further enhance agricultural productivity, increase income opportunities, and improve the living conditions of rural communities throughout the country.

"Through this project, the government aims to empower farmers and fisherfolk, strengthen value chains, and promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth by institutionalizing new environmental and social safeguards frameworks and protocols," Balisacan said.

Build-Better-More

During the meeting, Balisacan said the NEDA Board reviewed the first progress report on the Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) under the Marcos Administration's Build-Better-More Program.

According to the NEDA chief, 68 of the 194 IFPs are ongoing, 25 have been approved for implementation, nine are awaiting government approval, and the remaining projects are either in the process of project preparation or pre-project preparation.

"These high-impact infrastructure projects are designed to address the nation's infrastructure deficit, thereby driving sustainable economic growth across priority sectors of our economy," Balisacan said, noting that the IFPs have an estimated cost of P8.3 trillion.

"We are committed to implementing initiatives that will promote inclusive growth, induce high-quality job creation, and greatly improve living standards for all Filipinos," he added.