Ejercito gains DPWH chief’s backing for long-term infra masterplan to curb anomalous projects, flooding
October 20, 2025
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito secured the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon for his push to institutionalize a long-term national infrastructure masterplan under Senate Bill No. 2 or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act.
Speaking during the DPWH budget hearing on Monday, October 20, Ejercito warned that the absence of a unified plan has led to anomalous projects, wasteful spending, and overlapping flood control initiatives.
“We spend P350 billion a year on flood control—that’s about P1 billion every day,” Ejercito said. “But flooding in Central Luzon and Metro Manila keeps getting worse because projects are scattered and inconsistent. We need a masterplan that continues regardless of who’s in power.”
Ejercito said the MIND Act aims to institutionalize long-term planning so that major infrastructure programs such as railways, highways, and floodways remain consistent through different administrations.
“With the MIND Act, we can hit two birds with one stone, we ensure continuity in development while preventing waste and corruption,” the lawmaker from San Juan added.
Once passed, Ejercito said the MIND Act would not only rationalize infrastructure spending but also strengthen transparency, continuity, and national development planning.
Dizon agreed with the lawmaker’s observation, saying many existing projects were implemented without coordination or alignment with a central plan. He confirmed that the DPWH is now developing a Central Luzon Floodway Masterplan, funded by the Asian Development Bank, targeted for completion by August 2026.
It can be remembered that Ejercito first filed the MIND Act in the 19th Congress. It is now among the priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in the 20th Congress.
