Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito is advocating for a comprehensive infrastructure roadmap that spans 30 to 50 years. His proposal, Senate Bill No. 2, aims to create a long-term and integrated framework for infrastructure development in the Philippines.
A Call for Consistency in Infrastructure Development
Presidents may come and go, legacies may differ, and priorities may change, but the infrastructure that builds our nation must outlast any one administration.
JV Ejercito, Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader
- Long-term infrastructure planning should transcend political changes.
- Infrastructure investments must be interconnected rather than isolated projects.
Ejercito highlighted the necessity for sustained infrastructure investment to avoid the disruptive shifts caused by changes in administration. He stressed that the nation's infrastructure should form part of a cohesive vision that benefits all regions, not just major urban centers like Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
The proposed MIND Act is positioned as a solution to fragmented planning, which Ejercito argues has stunted economic growth and job creation. He noted that interconnected projects, such as ports linked with roads and railways, are vital for comprehensive national development.
Ejercito also emphasized accountability measures within the MIND Act. He proposed that major projects include clear identifiers and timelines to enhance transparency and ensure alignment with national priorities.
He concluded by stating, "If we have a clear blueprint developed by experts, the government will have just one direction to follow. There may be a change in the president, secretary, engineer, foreman, carpenter, or laborer, but the entire design for the country we are building will still be clear."