NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1987
of tilf j?'
23 MAR-9 P3 42
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FORMULATION AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION 
OF A COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
MASTER PLAN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Strategically planned and distributed infrastructure strengthens a country’s 
socioeconomic development and significantly contributes to achieving sustainable and 
inclusive growth. The country’s landscape, expanding population, and rapid 
urbanization necessitate carefully selected infrastructure investments that would 
improve the quality of life in both urban and rural areas and promote economic growth.
According to the 2022 World Competitiveness Yearbook by the International 
Institute for Management Development, the Philippines ranked 57th out of 63 
economies in terms of infrastructure, one of the indicators measured in the 
competitiveness landscape.1 Specifically, the country ranked 52nd in basic 
infrastructure, 45th in technological infrastructure, 52nd in scientific infrastructure, 58th 
in health and environment, and 60th in education infrastructure.2 This shows that 
achievements and reforms in infrastructure in recent years are not enough and 
improvements have to be made if we are to aim to be globally competitive in terms of 
overall infrastructure quality.
Thus, this measure seeks to provide for the formulation and institutionalization 
of a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan that will serve as a 
blueprint for investment planning towards a strategic infrastructure development. The 
Master Plan shall include the priorities, schedules, phases of implementation, as well 
as funding requirements and financing modalities for the projects and programs on
IMD. World Competitiveness Ranking 2022. Available at https://www.imd.org/centers/world- 
competitiveness-center/rankinqs/world-comoetitiveness/. Accessed on 08 March 2023.
IMD. World Competitiveness Ranking, Philippines Profile. Available at 
https://worldcompetitiveness.imd.orq/countrvprofile/PH/wcy. Accessed on 08 March 2023.


transportation and logistics, energy, water resources, information and communications 
technology, social, agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics infrastructure 
systems, and other basic facilities in the country. It aims to ensure that, with a master 
plan in place, there would be a systematic and continuing development of 
infrastructure projects in the country regardless of the changes in government. In 
preparing the Master Plan, the measure also mandates the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA) to ensure that their courses are aligned with the demands of the industry to 
address job skills-mismatch in the infrastructure and related sector.
Last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) underscored the 
new administration’s commitment to improve mobility and interconnectivity and said 
that it would maintain high investments in infrastructure at 5% to 6% of the country’s 
gross domestic product annually, consistent with the economic team’s Medium-Term 
Fiscal Framework. Institutionalizing the Comprehensive Infrastructure Development 
Master Plan will help ensure that every project built and every peso spent are geared 
towards economic improvement for the betterment of life of every Filipino.
For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOEl/yiLLANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
SB. No. 1987
of ti}f % ■. r-tncp
23 HAR-9 P3 *42
ftt-CEiV ED Bv;
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FORMULATION AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION 
OF A COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
MASTER PLAN
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive 
Infrastructure Development Master Plan Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
provide an efficient and integrated infrastructure system to promote sustainable 
development and inclusive economic growth across the country, and sound quality of 
life for all Filipinos. The State also recognizes the crucial role of public investment in 
infrastructure and human capital geared towards job creation and promoting economic 
growth.
Towards this end, the State shall develop reforms in infrastructure planning for 
the systematic and continuing development of essential transport and logistics, 
energy, water resources, information and communications technology, social, agri­
fisheries modernization and food logistics infrastructure systems, and other basic 
facilities in the country to achieve higher economic growth trajectory and improve the 
quality of life of all Filipinos.
SEC. 3. Formulation of a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development 
Master Plan. - The National Economic and Development Authority Board (“NEDA 
Board”) is hereby mandated to formulate a Comprehensive Infrastructure 
Development Master Plan, hereinafter referred to as “Master Plan,” that will serve as 
a blueprint for investment planning towards a strategic infrastructure development.
The Master Plan shall include the selection, prioritization, and phasing of projects


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with their respective descriptions, scopes, cost estimates, funding requirements, 
schedules, financing and implementation modalities, and implementing agencies for 
the following;
a) 
Transportation and Logistics Infrastructure Program;
b) 
Energy Infrastructure Program;
c) 
Water Resources Infrastructure Program;
d) 
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure Program;
e) 
Social Infrastructure Program;
f) 
Agri-Fisheries Modernization and Food Logistics Infrastructure Program; and
g) 
Asset Preservation and Maintenance Strategies.
The NEDA Board shall review and update the Master Plan as often as necessary, 
taking into account changes in development policies, in economic, physical and social 
conditions, and in the status of the projects, among others. This review and update 
may include the addition or deletion of projects or changes in their scopes and 
schedules, on the basis of actual physical, social, and economic circumstances, with 
sufficient justifications, according to detailed guidelines to be defined by the NEDA 
Board.
SEC. 4. Infrastructure Policies and Strategies. - The NEDA Board, in 
preparing the Master Plan including changes thereto, shall pursue the following 
national development policies and strategies:
a) 
Prioritization of projects of national significance, which are consistent with the 
approved National Physical Framework Plan and Land Use Plan, as well as with 
National, Regional, Local, and Sectoral Development Plans, Roadmaps, and 
Master Plans;
b) 
Observance of the following principles in the determination of priorities: 
effectiveness in meeting government objectives; economic feasibility and impact; 
poverty alleviation and social inclusion; environmental sustainability and climate 
resilience; safety; security; affordability; public access; technical readiness for 
implementation; and financial viability and value for money;
c) 
Maximization of private sector participation in the planning, development, 
financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure;
d) 
Establishment and pursuit of a whole-of-government strategy to coordinate 
infrastructure investment planning and implementation that promotes 
collaboration among key actors, with the NEDA as the lead coordinator;
e) 
Promotion of public consultation and feedback mechanisms on infrastructure 
investment priorities and projects at the national and local levels. These include 
alliances among the government, affected citizens, industries, investors, 
academe, think tanks, donor agencies, and other stakeholders to come up with 
smart approaches to infrastructure development on a sector-by-sector basis;
f) 
Implementation of adequate infrastructure asset preservation and maintenance 
strategies;


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g) 
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, 
especially against powerful and disastrous typhoons, floods, earthquakes, fires, 
volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other hazards;
h) 
Intensification of infrastructure-related research and development, especially the 
promotion of quality and sustainable infrastructure;
i) 
Harmonization of technical-vocational and higher education courses offered in 
educational institutions with the workforce requirements of the long-term 
infrastructure programs of the government and the private sector with a view to 
addressing job skills-mismatch in the infrastructure and related sector;
j) 
Prioritization of the employment of qualified Filipino professionals and technical 
workers in infrastructure projects;
k) 
Preferential use of quality constructions materials that have a high domestic 
content, especially those that use sustainable materials and appropriate 
technology;
l) 
Provision of appropriate training of, and technology transfer to, Filipino 
counterparts in infrastructure projects involving new or imported technology;
m) 
Prioritization of multi-sectoral, multi-modal, and area-wide development projects 
to take advantage of their synergistic effects;
n) 
Emphasis on food security infrastructure that will ensure the smooth flow of 
products across the archipelago. This will cover transport and logistics, energy, 
ICT, and other agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics infrastructure;
o) 
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; and
p) 
Adoption of appropriate infrastructure risk management measures, including risk 
identification, allocation, and mitigation in project development and management.
SEC. 5. Consideration of Approved National Infrastructure Projects. - The
infrastructure projects approved by the NEDA Board before the effectivity of this Act 
shall be given due consideration in the formulation and implementation of the Master 
Plan.
SEC. 6. Submission to Congress. - Every quarter after the enactment of this 
Act, the NEDA 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 approved changes to the Master Plan.


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SEC. 7. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC). - A Joint 
Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby created to monitor and oversee the 
implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members each 
from the Senate and the House of Representatives. The JCOC shall be headed by the 
Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and Committee on 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 each from both Houses.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the existing appropriations of the member agencies 
of the NEDA Board and such other appropriate funding sources as the Department of 
Budget and Management (DBM) may identify, subject to relevant laws, rules, and 
regulations. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, a Committee, composed of the NEDA Secretary as 
chairperson, and all members of the NEDA Committee on Infrastructure as members, 
shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the proper 
implementation of this Act.
In preparing the IRR, the Committee shall consult with stakeholders from the 
public and private sector, including local government units, business groups, 
community organizations, and non-government organizations.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or part hereof 
be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall 
remain valid and effective.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,