DOTr’s Bautista backs Ejercito’s proposed comprehensive infra master plan
December 13, 2022
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on
Tuesday vowed to support Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito’s proposed
comprehensive master plan for infrastructure development and transportation
modernization.
During the Commission on Appointments’ hearing
on his appointment, Bautista said he will endorse the proposal to President
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Kailangan po talagang magkaroon ng long-term
planning. There are countries po na talagang they plan up to fifty years [...]
Dito po sa ating bansa, kailangan po talaga na iplano natin ang lahat ng
infrastructure projects natin for airports, for railways, for ports, for roads
and bridges,” he said.
“We will tell po the President that we need to
really do a long-term planning for all our infrastructure projects,” he added.
In July, Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 158,
which seeks to create and institutionalize a comprehensive infrastructure
development master plan.
The plan would cover several areas of
development, such as transportation and logistics, energy, water resources,
information and communications technology, social infrastructure,
agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics, and asset preservation and
maintenance strategies.
“Planning for transportation and big-ticket
items takes about thirty, fifty, even one hundred years of planning. In line
with that, I filed a comprehensive master plan for infrastructure development
in the Senate,” the lawmaker said.
“Whoever seats as President, kahit sino po ang
Presidenteng umupo, oir infrastructure development and transportation
modernization, dapat po may blueprint, dapat may master plan tayong sinusunod,”
he added.
The master plan will pave the way for infrastructure
development beyond the country’s urban centers and spur new growth development
areas around the archipelago, Ejercito said.
