Infra master plan will encourage investments, create jobs for Filipinos, says JV Ejercito
March 20, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said his
proposed Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan will boost the
country’s investment climate and create new jobs and opportunities for
Filipinos.
“Infrastructure is vital to foster economic
development. When countries invest in infrastructure, it leads to higher
foreign and local investments, job opportunities, and efficient government
services,” Ejercito said on Monday.
“We are here today to help our government
craft a long-term infrastructure development master plan by providing
legislative guidelines to ensure continuity of high-quality integrated
infrastructure projects,” he added.
The lawmaker from San Juan said he launched
this proposal in response to the depressing state of the country’s major
infrastructure programs, which he described as inconsistent and disorganized.
He cited the frequent reblocking of roads that
are still in good condition and the implementation of road widening projects
that inflict damage on urban drainage systems as symptoms of this “cancer.”
“Sa mahabang panahon po ay naging maikli ang
ating pagtanaw sa pagpapaunlad ng ating bayan. Patsi-patsi at bara-bara ang
naging sistema ng ating pagtatayo. Kumbaga sa paggamot ng sakit, band-aid
solutions lamang ang ating ginagawa,” he said.
“Imbes na gamutin ang cancer ay nakuntento na
tayo sa paunang lunas o first aid. May karamdaman ang ating programang
imprastraktura at naiimpeksiyon na ang ating ekonomiya,” he added.
In July, Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 158,
which seeks to create and institutionalize a Comprehensive Infrastructure
Development Master Plan.
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.
He said his proposed master plan hopes to
ensure the continuity of the country’s major infrastructure programs despite
changes in administration.
The said plan also aims to harmonize the
government’s competing infrastructure priorities, he explained.
“The web of complicated problems that we
encounter everyday is brought about by poor planning or the lack thereof.
Crafting a master plan is laying the foundation for industrial and economic
development. Picture this as a blueprint in achieving progress, a map that will
lead us to prosperity,” Ejercito said.
