The House Committee on Public Works and Highways on Tuesday, Nov. 29, began deliberations on the proposed 30-year National Transportation Infrastructure Program that would “ensure continuity of development and implementation of projects across administrations regardless of changes in the national and local leadership.”

Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo, House committee chair, explained the intentions of adopting the program as it will benefit future generations of Filipinos.

“This is to institute a predictable road map for major infrastructure projects. Second, to identify and prioritize major infrastructure projects of the national government,” the lawmaker said.

“Third, to ensure continuity of development and implementation of projects across administrations regardless of changes in the national and local leadership,” he added.

The program would also “rationalize and seamlessly interconnect” the Philippines’ traditional medium-term and annual infrastructure programs.

Momo furthered that the proposed measure would “provide an overall framework of major infrastructure in the country over the next three decades in order to maximize their socio-economic impact.”

The deliberation tackled House Bills (HBs) 1181, 1975, and 4585, or “Adopting a 30-year National Transportation Infrastructure Program,” authored by Reps. Salvador Pleyto of Bulacan 6th District, Momo, and Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon Party-list. Pleyto and Momo were former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“This (program) will ensure the continuity of the infrastructure projects across five administrations,” Pleyto said.

According to Momo’s version of the bill—HB 1975—the core national infrastructure projects would be: transport and logistics infrastructure (road transport, metropolitan and urban road and expressway systems); rail and other mass transport (long-haul rail systems, urban commuter rail systems, urban bus transit systems); ports; and airports (Mega Manila airport systems and regional airports).

Other core projects are energy infrastructure (generation, transmission, and distribution); water resources infrastructure (water supply and sanitation, irrigation, flood control and drainage); ICT infrastructure; social infrastructure (school buildings, hospital and health facilities, waste management and circular economy infrastructure, and penitentiary infrastructure); agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics infrastructure.

Lawyer Cristine Pascual Bello of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) made a couple of suggestions for the 30-year National Transportation Infrastructure Program, saying it is “consistent” with the National Housing and Urban Development Sector Plan approved by the department on May 18, 2021.

“We would like to suggest, if possible, the frequency of the updating of the program be made every six years to give leeway in incorporating priority projects of the new administration,” she said.