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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 693 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2010 to 2017, during the pre-COVID19 pandemic, Philippines 
experienced a significant economic growth of 6.4% per annum, besting the 
global 3.8%. However, the challenge was on how to sustain such growth given 
the aging and deteriorating (transport) infrastructure which threatens the 
country’s 
continuous 
growth, 
economic 
expansion, 
and 
national 
competitiveness. 
The Duterte administration, perhaps, after having seen this growth – 
and the corresponding responsibility of sustaining, if not surpassing the same 
– as both an opportunity and challenge, made infrastructure development as a
major component of its economic development strategy thru the substantially-
funded Build, Build, Build Program. Under the said program, PhP8 trillion,
more or less, was committed to increase spending on infrastructure.
Rightfully so, the development of a country’s infrastructure has long 
been considered as synonymous to the growth of its sectors and the overall 
economy. It is a major factor in promoting economic growth and attracting 
foreign investors. Conversely, inadequate infrastructure constrain economic 
growth. 
Infrastructure development is the key towards attaining sustainable and 
inclusive economic growth. Developed countries has placed on pedestal 
policies pertaining to infrastructure development. Clearly, for a developing 
country like ours, infrastructure development policies promoting the same is 
vital in improving the quality of life of every Filipino.  
It is a well-accepted fact that there exists a strong relationship between 
infrastructure and economic growth. To attain sustainable and significant 
economic growth, however, infrastructure development, does not refer to a 
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single component alone. It involves improvement of the quality of the various 
components of infrastructure, such as transportation, energy, digital 
infrastructure, 
green 
infrastructure, 
water, 
and 
information 
and 
communications technology. Most importantly, infrastructure development is 
the construction of basic foundational services in order to stimulate economic 
growth leading to improvement in everyone’s quality of life. 
Thus, the proposed legislation mandates the formulation and 
institutionalization of a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master 
Plan which shall incorporate the priorities, schedules, and phases of 
implementation of the projects and activities as well as the estimated funding 
requirements and financing modalities for the following: 
a. Transportation and Logistics Infrastructure Program;
b. Human Settlements and Urban Development Program;
c.
Energy Infrastructure Program;
d. Water Resources Infrastructure Program;
e. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure
Program;
f.
Social Infrastructure Program;
g. Agri-Fisheries Modernization and Food Logistics Infrastructure
Program; and
h. Asset Preservation and Maintenance Strategies.
Finally, the subject legislation seeks to (i) adopt a Transit-Oriented 
Development (TOD) system/plan to promote urban growth and ensure 
compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, and suitable dense development 
organized around transit stations in order to bring economic, social, and 
environmental benefits to towns and cities and (ii) incorporate Land-Value 
Capture (LVC) schemes/mechanisms which are most useful and practically 
feasible to the country’s current and foreseeable infrastructure needs. 
Most importantly, a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development 
Master Plan guarantees a semblance of continuity which succeeding leaders of 
the country may – or shall – follow. 
It is on the foregoing that the undersigned seeks the support for 
immediate enactment of the proposed legislation into a law.  
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 693 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. BENITEZ 
AN 
ACT 
MANDATING 
THE 
FORMULATION 
AND 
INSTITUTIONALIZATION 
OF 
A 
COMPREHENSIVE 
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN 
Be it enacted by the House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive 
Infrastructure Development Master Plan.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to 
provide an efficient and integrated infrastructure system capable of promoting, 
encouraging, and supporting sustainable development and inclusive economic 
growth across the country.  
The State also recognizes the crucial role of public investment in 
infrastructure and human capital geared towards creation of employment 
opportunities and promoting economic growth. 
Toward this end, the State shall undertake to develop reforms in 
infrastructure planning to achieve higher economic growth trajectory leading 
towards the improvement of the quality of life of the Filipinos. 
Sec. 3. Formulation of a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master 
Plan. – The National Economic Development Authority (“NEDA”) Board 
Executive Committee (“Board”) is hereby mandated to formulate a 


 
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Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan (“Master Plan”) that 
will serve as a blueprint for investment planning towards a strategic 
infrastructure development. 
 
The Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan shall 
include the priorities, schedules, and phases of implementation of the projects 
and activities as well as the estimated funding requirements and financing 
modalities for the following: 
 
i. Transportation and Logistics Infrastructure Program; 
j. Human Settlements and Urban Development Program; 
k. Energy Infrastructure Program; 
l. Water Resources Infrastructure Program; 
m. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure 
Program; 
n. Social Infrastructure Program; 
o. Agri-Fisheries Modernization and Food Logistics Infrastructure 
Program; and 
p. Asset Preservation and Maintenance Strategies. 
 
 
Sec. 4. Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan – The NEDA 
Board, in preparing the Master Plan, including amendments thereto, shall 
consider the following: 
 
a. Establishment and pursuit of a whole-of-government approach to 
coordinate infrastructure investment planning and implementation 
that promotes collaboration among key actors; 
 
b. Adopt a Transit-Oriented Development (“TOD”) system/plan to 
promote urban growth and ensure compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-
friendly, and suitable dense development organized around transit 
stations in order to bring economic, social, and environmental 
benefits to towns and cities; 
 
c. Incorporate Land-Value Capture (“LVC”) schemes/mechanisms 
which are most useful and practically feasible to the country’s 
current and foreseeable infrastructure needs; 
 
d. Development of an efficient, safe, economical, accessible, affordable, 
reliable integrated, seamless, and environmentally sustainable 
national infrastructure system;  
 
e. Adoption of appropriate infrastructure risk management measures, 
including risk identification, allocation, and mitigation, in project 
development and management; 


 
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f. Incorporation of green and sustainable design, climate change 
adaptation and disaster resilience measures, as well as updated 
strength, safety, health and environmental standards in the design 
and construction of infrastructure projects; 
 
g. Establishment of a strategic national transport network consisting of 
complementary roads, railways, ports, and airports that serve 
medium and long-distance high-density traffic between key cities 
and municipalities, economic hubs, international gateways and 
major corridors in urban centers; 
 
h. Promotion of public consultation and feedback mechanisms on 
infrastructure investment priorities and projects at the national and 
local levels; 
 
i. Preferential use of quality construction materials that have a high 
domestic content, especially those that use sustainable materials and 
appropriate technology; and 
 
j. Emphasis on food security infrastructure that will ensure the smooth 
flow of cargo across the archipelago. 
 
Sec. 6. Transit-Oriented Development – The Board, in coordination with 
the Department of Transportation and the Department of Human Settlements 
and Urban Development, shall adopt the TOD as a development policy in 
conjunction with the implementation of mass public transport systems. 
 
The TOD shall be designed to take advantage of the concentration of 
people in mass public transport systems to promote urban growth without 
leaving behind the less fortunate public. TOD development policy shall 
implement a plan and design strategy to ensure compact, mixed-use, 
pedestrian-friendly, and suitable dense development organized around transit 
stations. 
 
Sec. 7. Land-Value Capture – LVC refers to the act of collecting a share of 
the benefits generated by infrastructure projects that flow to the value of land 
which include, among others: 
 
I. 
Tax-Based Schemes 
 
a. Property tax levied on the assessed value of the land and 
associated properties;  
b. Special assessment imposed on property owners who benefit 
directly from specific public investments; 


 
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II. 
Development-Based Schemes 
 
c. Joint ventures particularly referring to project-specific PPP 
arrangements in which the government and private 
developers 
coordinate 
the 
development 
of 
transport 
infrastructure facilities and adjacent private properties, with 
the latter contributing financially or in-kind to these facilities 
that are expected to add value to their real estate holdings; 
and 
 
d. Land Asset Management by explore the option of selling or 
leasing a portion of the land as a way to raise funds to pay for 
the infrastructure.  
 
Through the use of LVC mechanisms, the government may capture 
some of the land-value increments to help recover various infrastructure costs 
by extracting funds from those areas and entities that directly benefit from 
public transport infrastructure.  
 
Sec. 8. Approved National Infrastructure Projects. – The infrastructure 
projects approved by the Board prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be 
considered in the formulation and implementation of the Master Plan.  
 
Sec. 9. Submission to Congress. – Every quarter after the enactment of this 
Act, the Board shall submit to Congress, progress reports on the formulation of 
the Master Plan until its final approval. In the same manner, Congress shall be 
notified of any proposed amendments to the approved Master Plan. 
 
Sec. 10. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee - A Congressional 
Oversight Committee (“Committee”) is hereby created to monitor and oversee 
the implementation of this Act.  
 
The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate 
and six (6) members from the House of Representatives. The Committee shall 
be headed by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs 
and Committee of Public Works, and the Chairperson of the House Committee 
on Economic Affairs and Committee on Public Works and Highways. The other 
members of the Committee shall be designated by the Senate President and the 
Speaker of the House, respectively. The Minority shall have at least two (2) 
representatives from both chambers.  
 
Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The initial funding requirements for the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against existing appropriations of 
the member-agencies of the Board and such other appropriate funding sources 


 
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as the Department of Budget and Management may identify, subject to relevant 
laws, rules and regulations. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days of 
the approval of this Act, the Board, in consultation with stakeholders from the 
public and private sectors, including local government units, business groups, 
community organizations, and non-government organizations, shall formulate 
the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the 
law. 
 
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in 
full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations 
or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately after fifteen (15) 
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
 
APPROVED,