DEPDev to draft 25-year plan for infrastructure continuity

The Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) is set to formulate the Philippines' first-ever 25-year infrastructure masterplan, a landmark effort aimed at protecting key development projects from political disruptions and ensuring long-term continuity.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced that the mandate stems from the newly signed Economy, Planning and Development Act, which officially reorganizes NEDA into DEPDev. The law was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on April 10 and is scheduled to take effect on April 27.

“The law now tasks us to produce the first long-term framework for the period 2025 to 2050,” Balisacan said during a recent media briefing. “It also assigns us to lead the efforts in coming up with this long-term comprehensive infrastructure development framework.”

This institutional shift marks a significant departure from previous practices where infrastructure plans were often vulnerable to delays or cancellation following a change in leadership.

“This is the first time that a government agency is explicitly mandated by law to not only create but also safeguard the continuity of infrastructure plans through political transitions,” Balisacan added.

The DEPDev chief emphasized that once a masterplan is adopted by the Cabinet, it will carry legal and procedural weight, requiring formal approval from both the Cabinet and the President for any major alterations.

“In other words, once adopted, it will not be easy for any Cabinet member—like the Secretary of Public Works or the Secretary of Transportation—to simply disregard the masterplan,” he explained.

Balisacan stressed that the long-term infrastructure strategy will serve as a critical link between outgoing and incoming administrations, ensuring that national development projects proceed without interruption.

The proposed infrastructure blueprint will lay out key priorities and guide the country’s infrastructure investment decisions through 2050, covering sectors such as transport, energy, digital connectivity, and climate-resilient development.

This initiative is part of the broader effort to institutionalize strategic planning in government and promote sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready growth.