The government’s proposed infrastructure spending for 2027 is putting renewed attention on how public projects are planned, coordinated, and completed, particularly as the country continues to deal with flooding and concerns over substandard infrastructure. Against this backdrop, lawmakers are pushing for a long-term framework that would connect national development priorities with infrastructure investments.
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Senate Pushes Integrated Infrastructure Planning
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Erwin Tulfo is seeking progress on Senate Bill 1360, or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act, which he filed and which remains pending before the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs. The proposal is gaining urgency as the upper chamber begins deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
Tulfo pointed to recent weather conditions as evidence of weaknesses in existing public works, particularly unfinished and substandard projects. “The continued heavy rains exposed substandard public works such as bridges and roads. There are even unfinished projects because the initial phases were funded while the subsequent phases were left hanging,” Tulfo said in a statement.
He also raised concerns over spending on projects that remain incomplete. “We are spending taxpayers’ money on these unfinished projects only to yield zero benefit from it — all these because of a fundamental lack of planning,” he added.
The proposed measure seeks to address these gaps by creating an exhaustive, interconnected national infrastructure plan for 2027. Tulfo said projects already in progress should be identified and completed, while new developments should be aligned with plans at the local level.
“We have to triple our efforts to identify and complete hanging projects. And any projects which are about to start must be synchronized with the development plans down to the local level," the senator said.
Flood Control and Long-Term Infrastructure Needs
The push for the MIND Act comes alongside broader efforts to improve flood management. Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito has also backed the measure, saying it could help advance the long-term development vision for a prosperous middle-class Philippines while streamlining private and public infrastructure investments.
Ejercito said the framework would also promote policy continuity and clarify the responsibilities of government agencies and instrumentalities involved in critical infrastructure projects. He further linked long-term planning with efforts to address weaknesses exposed by the current flood control mess.
"The flood-prone areas and major river basins have already been identified, so any flood control projects should prioritize the country’s top 10 flood-prone areas," Ejercito said during a radio interview.
He also emphasized the need to address incomplete infrastructure. "We need to close the gaps. The DPWH should address the remaining gaps and complete unfinished flood control projects," he added.
The scale of planned infrastructure spending underscores the significance of the discussion. According to the Department of Budget and Management, the Marcos administration has set a P1.47 trillion budget for its “Build Better More” infrastructure initiative under the proposed P7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program in 2027. Of the proposed infrastructure budget next year, 42.2 percent is allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), amounting to P619.04 billion.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also announced on Saturday that the government will implement a P351-billion Flood Management Master Plan, highlighting the administration’s push for long-term measures against the country’s massive flooding.
"Infrastructure projects should stand the test of time, extreme weather, and even changing political climates. They must remain functional regardless of who is in power," Tulfo added.
Better infrastructure planning can help have a direct impact on daily mobility, public safety, and protection from extreme weather. Completing projects as intended and directing flood control investments toward areas most at risk could help reduce disruptions caused by flooding while making public spending more effective across the country.
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