The Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) is set to craft the country’s first 25-year infrastructure masterplan to ensure that critical projects continue despite changes in administration.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a recent press chat that the Economy, Planning and Development Act, which reorganizes NEDA to DEPDev, mandated the agency to formulate the country’s first long-term infrastructure blueprint.

The law was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on April 10 and would take effect on April 27.

“The law now tasks us to produce the first long-term framework for the period 2025 to 2050. And then it also tasks us to provide and to lead the efforts in coming up with this long-term comprehensive infrastructure development framework,” Balisacan told reporters.

Balisacan said this is the first time that a government agency is mandated by law to oversee and carry these plans forward, especially as administration changes.

“The new law gives that mandate to DEPDev, serving as link between the outgoing administration and the incoming administration,” he added, emphasizing the importance of continuity of key infrastructure projects.

Historically, infrastructure development in the Philippines has suffered from inconsistent implementation, with projects often stalled or abandoned due to shifts in leadership.

“In other words, once a long-term infrastructure masterplan is adopted by the Cabinet through DEPDev, it will not be easy for any Cabinet member, like a Secretary of Public Works or Secretary of Transportation, to just ignore the presence of such masterplan and not unless the Cabinet and the President convene to approve the masterplan,” the NEDA chief said.

Balisacan added that the long-term masterplan boosts the probability of critical infrastructure projects to be implemented without political interruptions. (PNA)