Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. 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 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: 
November 24, 2022
9:18 am
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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.  
JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. 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 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.
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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; 
 
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; 
 
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 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,