Gov't updates infra flagship projects selection process

Recognizing the important role of infrastructure development in driving and sustaining Philippine economic growth, the government continues to monitor and update the list of infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) or priority infrastructure projects for implementation.

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

In line with efforts to get the private sector to invest in sectors and help propel the country's growth, the government recently updated the selection of projects to be part of the IFP list to include purely private business undertakings.

During the meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Marcos earlier this month, it approved an amendment to the guidelines to the formulation of the government's IFP list to include purely private sector projects in the selection process.

IFPs or priority infrastructure projects are those considered by the government as game-changing, transformative and urgently needed.

Updated list

As of September this year, there are 186 IFPs amounting to P9.6 trillion under the government's Build Better More program.

These projects are in various sectors including physical connectivity, water resources, agriculture, digital connectivity and energy.

So far, four IFPs have been completed such as the Samar Pacific Coastal Road project, Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation project for low-lying areas of Pampanga Bay, Flood Risk Improvement and Management project in Cagayan de Oro and the Surallah-T'Boli-San Jose Road.

To be part of the IFP list, the project should contribute to the national development goals and priorities under the overall development blueprint, the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028.