Ejercito pushes long-term infrastructure master plan to stimulate nationwide economic growth, create jobs
July 16, 2026
A long time advocate for a national infrastructure masterplan since the 17th Congress, Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito on Thursday renewed his call for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2 or the MIND Act to accelerate development, generate sustainable jobs, and spread economic growth across the country.
“This will hit two birds with one stone… Sa tingin ko, ito ang magiging susi. This will really stimulate economic growth all over the country. This will spread out the development. Hindi lang sa Metro Manila, hindi lang sa Cebu, hindi lang sa Davao ang centers of growth. Dapat maikalat po ito, like for example, dun po sa ibang areas ng Mindanao,” Ejercito said during the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs joint with Committee on Public Works and Finance.
"Ang railway at mass transit ang susi sa mas mabilis na paggalaw ng tao, negosyo, at ekonomiya. Ang infrastructure development ay hindi lang para sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, ito ay para sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino," he added.
Ejercito’s bill seeks to establish a long-term and institutionalized Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Masterplan and create the Masterplan for Infrastructure Development (MIND) Council to ensure that major infra projects are coordinated, data-driven, transparent, and continue beyond changes in political leadership.
The lawmaker from San Juan said the government must prioritize projects that create sustainable jobs and livelihood opportunities instead of relying solely on cash assistance programs.
“Huwag naman tayong umasa na lang sa programang ayuda. Kailangan natin ng disenteng trabaho at hanapbuhay in the long run that is sustainable. Ang ayuda po, panandalian, hindi po ‘yan sustainable. Ang gusto natin, tunay na trabaho at hanapbuhay upang maiangat ang antas ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
While the government has already laid the policy groundwork through the Republic Act No. 12145 or the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Law and Executive Order No. 72, Ejercito also noted that it is crucial to institutionalize the system through the passage of the MIND Act, one of his priority measures in the 20th Congress.
It can be remembered that during the deliberations on the DepDev Law, Ejercito also proposed Section 15 for the inclusion of the country's long-term vision, goals, and strategy for infrastructure development to the Long-term Development Framework.
"Kung titingnan natin ang ating mga karatig-bansa sa ASEAN, makikita natin kung gaano na tayo napag-iwanan sa infrastructure development. Hindi ito rocket science. Nagkaroon sila ng malinaw na direksyon at pangmatagalang plano. Panahon na para gawin din natin iyon," he added.
*No more last-minute budget insertions*
As the current Finance chief, Ejercito said the Senate will put an end to the practice of last-minute insertions during the bicameral conference committee and strengthen the participation of local governments in determining priority infrastructure projects.
"Hindi na tayo tatanggap ng mga insertions sa bicam. Sisiguraduhin nating may boses ang ating regional development councils at mga local government sa pagpili ng mga proyektong ipatutupad. Hindi na puwedeng may mga proyektong ipinapasok na hindi alam o hindi prayoridad ng mismong komunidad," he said.
He stressed that the recent flood control issue exposed the consequences of fragmented planning, weak project monitoring, and poor accountability, making the passage of the MIND Act more urgent than ever.
He emphasized that while those responsible for alleged anomalies in flood control projects must be held accountable, the government must not allow the scandal to paralyze infrastructure development.
“Ayusin natin ang sistema. Panagutin ang dapat managot. Pero ipagpatuloy natin ang mga proyektong tunay na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan.”
