MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to prioritize infrastructure projects critical to the needs of Filipinos in the remaining years of his term.
Marcos led the 12th meeting of the Economy and Development Council (EDC) at Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon, where he convened with government officials to discuss several key infrastructure and social welfare projects aimed at improving essential services across the country.
One of the key issues the administration wants to solve is national energy security. Through the Agus-Pulangi hydropower facilities in Mindanao, the government aims to enhance regional electricity reliability.
Additionally, the completion of remaining pumping stations under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project was reviewed to improve drainage capacity and reduce flooding in vulnerable communities.
In the transport sector, proposed adjustments to the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project were tackled to facilitate the smoother movement of people, goods, and services between Davao City and Samal Island.
Furthermore, the meeting also covered Project Balay, a pilot program designed to provide safe and affordable dormitory accommodations across five state universities and colleges while prioritizing households covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other vulnerable sectors.
On social welfare, the Social Protection Floor Prioritization Matrix was introduced to help the government better identify priority beneficiaries and optimize resource allocation.
Finally, a proposed Executive Order establishing a unified framework for local government land-use planning was discussed to strengthen coordination and protect agricultural lands as part of the administration's broader efforts to bridge infrastructure gaps nationwide.
