Remove the roadblocks on right of way acquisition

In recent years, the government has committed to make game-changing reforms in order to make the Philippines more attractive as an investment destination.

Attracting investments is essential to the advancement of inclusive economic growth, and making life better for more Filipinos, through the creation of more jobs, the provision of better services, and the availability of economic opportunities for all. 

Policies from both the legislative and executive branches have been established to bring us closer to this end. These ensure that the pronouncements are not mere rhetoric, but they are actual aspirations toward which there are concrete action plans.

Recent pieces of legislation that seek to liberalize the economy are the Public Service Act. the Foreign Investments Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act. These complement the earlier Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

On top of this, the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, which became a law just this December 2023, aims to establish a transparent, rules-based, and efficient PPP framework to enhance the procurement and delivery of infrastructure projects. 

From the executive side, the Palace issued Executive Order 18 in February 2023. This EO mandates the creation of green lanes to expedite and streamline the process of issuing licenses and permits for strategic investments, defined as those that are aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

Strategic investments are expected to make a significant contribution to the economy by bringing in substantial capital or investments, improving the country's balance of payments, and enhancing its infrastructure capabilities. 

These investments are categorized as follows: (1) highly desirable projects; (2) foreign direct investments (FDIs); and (3) projects or activities under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP). When this was launched in July 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his optimism about the Philippines becoming an attractive and competitive hub for business ventures. 

As mandated by the EO, the Board of Investments established its One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments