Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito is pushing for the institutionalization of a comprehensive master plan for the country's infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Stratbase Forum titled "Revitalizing Infrastructure Development in the Philippines through Public-Private Partnerships" held in Makati, Ejercito said such legislation will pave the way for a higher economic growth trajectory for country.  

Ejercito believes that a master plan will serve as a blueprint for the different departments of the government in the construction, upgrading, and improvement of the infrastructure projects all over the country.

The said plan, which will be drafted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and monitored by a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee, would cover several areas of development: transportation and logistics, energy, water resources, information and communications technology, social infrastructure, agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics, and asset preservation and maintenance strategies.

As a staunch advocate of infrastructure development, Ejercito also vowed to prioritize the continuity of the major infrastructure programs in the country, regardless of changes in the government's leadership.

He stressed the importance of establishing a clear roadmap that transcends presidential administrations.

In the latest available Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines ranked 102nd out of 141 countries in terms of transport infrastructure. Among the Asian countries, the Philippines also received the lowest-rated railway service, ranking 86th out of 101 countries.

Assessing foreign direct investments (FDIs), Ejercito said the country has fallen behind in terms of infrastructure development, with countries like Vietnam overtaking the Philippines.

He attributed this decline to two key factors: the high cost of energy and the inadequate infrastructure development.

"Most officials, even the national officials, are only concerned of the short-term, medium-term.  Nakalimutan po natin 'yung long-term planning. That's probably the reason why comparing us to the ASEAN neighbors,  we are already lagging behind in terms of infrastructure development," he said.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2233, also known as the Public-Private Partnership Act, authored and sponsored by Ejercito, has recently advanced to the third reading after passing the second reading. It is scheduled for bicameral discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

The said measure will also address the country’s worsening infrastructure backlogs, generate new opportunities for workers and the private sector, and eradicate poverty in the process.

The lawmaker from San Juan expressed optimism that the bill would be ratified on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

"So, before we go on break, the PPP Act would already be adopted," he said.

Under the proposed bill, Ejercito emphasized the significant reforms introduced in the PPP framework, drawing from both positive and negative experiences since the enactment of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law in the 1990s.

He highlighted that these reforms are intended to inspire confidence in potential project proponents and to ensure that the government and implementing agencies can select the most advantageous options.

"We will make sure that the government and the implementing agencies will have a hand in producing the best option possible," he said.