Infrastructure tops NEDA's legislative agenda

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is pushing for five legislative measures seeking to fast-track infrastructure development and ensure the delivery of basic services to the public.

Socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Tuesday the measures would be presented before the Legislative Executive Development and Advisory Council (LEDAC), which is expected to convene in September or October.

The council, which consists of officials from the executive and leaders of the two legislative chambers, aims to ensure the timely passage of bills that are in line with the administration's priorities.

The items on the legislative wish list were recommended by the agency's infrastructure committee. 

The measures in NEDA's legislative agenda are the creation of a "super body" for the water resources sector and an independent economic and financial regulator for the water sector; the crafting of a national transport policy; amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law and its implementing rules; amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act; (EPIRA) and amendments to the Water Code of the Philippines.

Pernia said the bill seeking to form a super body to be called "Water Resources Authority" would benefit areas that do not have access to water.

"We are not really secure in terms of our water needs. You know, there are many areas that are waterless," Pernia said at a press conference at Malacañang.

"They have to buy at expensive prices at high prices," he added.

The bill providing for a national transport policy, meanwhile, aims to coordinate different transport projects to ensure systematic connectivity across regions.

Pernia said amendments to the BOT Law aim to hurdle right of way problems and other issues that prevent the rapid processing of infrastructure projects.

The amendments to the EPIRA, meanwhile, seek to address issues in the power sector.

Pernia said the administration would revitalize the LEDAC, which he said, was dormant during the previous administration. He also suggested an informal dialogue among the three branches of government so that the judiciary would understand the impact of the problems in the judicial system on development. 

"We draw in the justices and the well, especially the Supreme Court so they will understand why our judicial system is a problem, a stumbling block in our development, the TROs (temporary restraining orders),"  Pernia said.

"They can argue among themselves, the three branches of government but they should be one in acting toward our common goal," he added.