President Marcos issues EO integrating, harmonizing infrastructure development

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has issued an order adopting an integrated and harmonized process for the planning, approval, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of master plans for the infrastructure sector.

In issuing Executive Order 72, Marcos stressed the need for an integrated master-planning development and convergence programs toward sustainable, resilient and modernized infrastructure facilities and services.

Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Oct. 28, EO 72 states that all concerned government agencies are directed to formulate and/or update their master plans for infrastructure projects.

Agencies shall include in their plans applicable physical spatial and other cross-cutting elements and principles such as convergence; interconnectivity; digital technologies and solutions; environmental quality and ecological integrity; sustainability; climate change resiliency; disaster risk reduction and management; and gender equality, disability and social inclusion, the order said.

Due consideration shall be given to aesthetics in identified tourist destinations, the EO stated.

Agencies must also ensure complementarity of proposed master plans with land use and urban planning initiatives, especially those with inter-sectoral coverage and concerns as well as alignment with other plans, programs and projects at the national and regional levels.

Agencies are likewise ordered to consult relevant stakeholders, including academe, civil society organizations, and business sector and ensure that key infrastructure projects are consistent with the Public Investment Program and the three-year Rolling Infrastructure Program of the government.

Based on the EO, all master plans of national scope for the infrastructure sector and its subsectors, including transportation, water resources, energy, information and communications technology and social infrastructure, among others, must be submitted and approved by the Committee on Infrastructure (Infracom), under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, before their adoption and implementation.

Master plans with significant impact on cities, municipalities and/or regions shall be endorsed by the concerned Regional Development Council prior to submission to the Infracom.

The Infracom-approved master plans will be endorsed to the NEDA board for confirmation.

The order also mandates the review and update of the infrastructure master plan as may be necessary to ensure that it is synchronized with the Philippine Development Plan. Agencies are required to submit an annual report to Infracom, the EO said.