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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ejercito gets DPWH's backing for long-term infra master plan to curb anomalous projects

Ejercito gets DPWH's backing for long-term infra master plan to curb anomalous projects

Published Oct 20, 2025 05:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator JV Ejercito, backed by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, pushed for the passage of the MIND Act to institutionalize a long-term national infrastructure master plan that ensures continuity, coordination, and transparency in development projects across administrations.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito got the support of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon for his push to institutionalize a long-term national infrastructure master plan.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito proposes to have a masterplan for infrastructure and national development, underscoring its significance to the country. During Monday’s hearing, October 20, 2025, of the Finance Subcommittee A, Ejercito asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to support Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act which he authored. (Senate PRIB photo)
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito proposes to have a masterplan for infrastructure and national development, underscoring its significance to the country. During Monday’s hearing, October 20, 2025, of the Finance Subcommittee A, Ejercito asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to support Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act which he authored. (Senate PRIB photo)
The proposal was embodied under Senate Bill (SB) No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act filed by Ejercito at the start of the 20th Congress earlier this year.
Speaking during the DPWH budget hearing on Monday, Oct. 20, Ejercito reckoned that the absence of a unified plan has led to anomalous projects, wasteful spending, and overlapping flood control initiatives.
“We spend P350 billion a year on flood control—that’s about P1 billion every day,” Ejercito said.
“But flooding in Central Luzon and Metro Manila keeps getting worse because projects are scattered and inconsistent. We need a masterplan that continues regardless of who’s in power,” he added.
Ejercito said the MIND Act aims to institutionalize long-term planning so that major infrastructure programs such as railways, highways, and floodways remain consistent through different administrations.
“With the MIND Act, we can hit two birds with one stone, we ensure continuity in development while preventing waste and corruption,” the lawmaker from San Juan added.
Once passed, Ejercito said the MIND Act would not only rationalize infrastructure spending but also strengthen transparency, continuity, and national development planning.
Dizon agreed with the lawmaker’s observation, and said many existing projects were implemented without coordination or alignment with a central plan. He confirmed that the DPWH was now developing a Central Luzon Floodway Masterplan, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and targeted for completion by August 2026.
It can be remembered that Ejercito first filed the MIND Act in the previous 19th Congress. It is now among the priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in the 20th Congress.

Related Tags

jv ejercito Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Vince Dizon LEDAC
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