‘50-year blueprint para sa infra’: JV Ejercito renews push for MIND Act
August 26, 2026
A staunch advocate of infrastructure development, Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito is pushing the Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act to establish a long-term and integrated infrastructure roadmap for the Philippines.
Ejercito, who has been advocating infrastructure development since the 19th Congress, said the country needs a masterplan that will provide continuity in infrastructure projects despite changes in administration.
“The Philippines needs not only sustained infrastructure investment but also a truly integrated national infrastructure masterplan—one that transcends political administrations, connects our roads, railways, airports, seaports, energy, water, and digital networks, and ensures that every project forms part of a long-term vision for national development,” Ejercito said in his privilege speech on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Ejercito said the Philippines can no longer afford to repeatedly change direction every time there is a change in administration.
“Presidents may come and go, legacies may differ, and priorities may change, but the infrastructure that builds our nation must outlast any one administration,” he pointed out.
Jobs, investments, and economic development
The lawmaker from San Juan said the Philippine government needs to move away from fragmented and short-term infrastructure planning.
“The MIND Act allows us to hit two birds with one stone. It will help create jobs, attract investments, and spread out development all over the country. Hindi lamang Metro Manila, Cebu, at Davao ang dapat maging sentro ng pag-unlad. Dapat maikalat natin ang development sa iba't ibang dako ng bansa,” he said.
Ejercito said the proposed measure would help ensure that infrastructure investments are planned as interconnected systems rather than isolated projects.
“Hindi puwedeng patsi-patsi ang ating imprastraktura; putsu-putsu ang kalidad; bara-bara ang pagkakagawa; at basta-basta ang pagpapatupad.”
Ejercito cited the need to coordinate projects across sectors. A port, for example, should be supported by roads, railways, warehouses, cold storage, electricity, and internet connectivity.
He likewise stressed that flood control projects should be guided by comprehensive river-basin planning, while housing projects should be connected to jobs, schools, hospitals, and public transportation.
“May mas mataas tayong pananagutan: ang bumalangkas ng pangmatagalang plano para sa pambansang kaunlaran. Isang planong hindi lamang nagbibigay ng pansamantalang ginhawa, kundi lumilikha ng maayos, dekalidad, at disenteng trabaho para sa mga Pilipino.”
Accountability mechanisms
Ejercito emphasized that the MIND Act is not a replacement for existing anti-corruption mechanisms, but can strengthen accountability by closing gaps in infrastructure planning.
Under the proposed framework, major projects would have clear identifiers, locations, purposes, timelines, costs, and links to the national masterplan, making it easier to track whether projects are necessary, properly planned, and aligned with national priorities.
“Kung mayroon tayong malinaw na blueprint na pinagtulungan ng ating mga eksperto, may iisang direksyong susundan ang pamahalaan. Magpalit man ang Pangulo, kalihim, engineer, foreman, karpintero, o manggagawa, malinaw pa rin ang kabuuang disenyo ng ating itinatayong bansa.”
Ejercito said the proposed 30- to 50-year masterplan should provide a long-term foundation for employment and economic development, with infrastructure projects implemented in phases but always connected to one national vision.
“Trabaho po ito, hindi ayuda… Habang mahalaga ang ayuda at tungkulin ng pamahalaan na magbigay ng agarang suporta sa ating mga kababayan nating nangangailangan, hindi maaaring sa ayuda na lamang ang maging sagot sa kahirapan.”
