The government is accelerating the approval process for infrastructure flagship projects to create more jobs and catch up with its neighbors in the region.
Different government agencies on Tuesday released the implementing guidelines for Executive Order No. 59 (EO 59) on “Streamlining the Permitting Process for Infrastructure Flagship Projects [IFPs].”
It is designed to streamline the processing of permits for the government’s 185 IFPs worth P9.54 trillion or about $162.7 billion.
The EO 59 and its implementing guidelines aim to eliminate unnecessary delays in the issuance of licenses, clearances, permits, certifications or authorizations, ensuring the timely completion of IFPs.
The guidelines apply to national government agencies, government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, other government instrumentalities, and local government units involved in the issuance of such documents.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the streamlined processes under EO 59 represent a significant stride toward enhancing the country’s investment climate, improving the ease of doing business and strengthening the country’s economic foundation.
“Fast-tracking our major capital projects is crucial because we seek to catch up with our dynamic neighbors in the region and realize the numerous economic opportunities such projects will bring. We hope to create the enabling conditions for high-quality job creation for thousands of Filipinos,” Balisacan said in a statement.
“We wish to enhance regional connectivity and link leading and lagging regions; and we aim to raise the competitiveness of our local industries and foster rapid, sustained, and inclusive growth,” he said.
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary Ernesto Perez said the issuance of the guidelines demonstrates the government’s commitment to cutting through red tape and ensuring the efficient and effective completion of infrastructure projects.
“Infrastructure projects are not merely about physical structures. When we invest in building robust infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for economic growth, social progress, and enhanced quality of life for our fellow Filipinos,” Perez said.
“The issuance of EO 59 stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to achieve these goals and achieve bureaucratic efficiency,” he said.
The EO 59 was signed on April 30, 2024 and took effect on May 5. The INFRACOM will serve as the steering committee, providing policy direction for the order’s effective implementation.
Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) president Rene Almendras, former Cabinet Secretary of the Aquino administration, welcomed the issuance of the implementing guidelines.
The MAP said it has been fully supporting ARTA’s mission of transforming the way the government serves and enables its citizens and stakeholders through good regulatory practices, streamlining and re-engineering of processes, collaboration and application of technology.
“We fully agree that there is an urgent need to further streamline the process for issuance of required licenses, clearances, permits, certifications and authorizations to expedite the implementation of infrastructure flagship projects which are needed for meaningful economic transformation,” said Almendras.