The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Infrastructure Sector has recommended the establishment of a right-of-way (ROW) office under the Office of the President to expedite the completion of major infrastructure projects in the Philippines. This proposal was discussed in a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where the council highlighted key challenges impeding the timely progress of vital infrastructure projects, such as legal delays, court backlogs, and bureaucratic inefficiencies in ROW acquisition.
The ROW acquisition process has long been a bottleneck in infrastructure development. The council stressed that inconsistent funding, poor inter-agency coordination, and slow legal procedures complicate the process, often causing delays. To resolve these issues, the proposed ROW Office would collaborate with relevant government agencies to streamline ROW execution, assigning dedicated lawyers to prioritize industries like transportation, energy, telecommunications, and water.
In addition to establishing the ROW Office, PSAC recommended using a portion of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC) for land purchases, as well as re-establishing a multi-year obligation allocation to ensure continuous funding for ROW beyond annual budgets. The council also urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to align ROW funding with national projects to reduce delays caused by post-approval funding gaps.
Transport Secretary Vince Dizon highlighted the government’s proposed solutions, including the Interim Rental Subsidy for informal settlers affected by ROW acquisition. As part of the Malolos-Clark Railway project, affected families will receive P7,000 per month for 18 months to support relocation efforts while the Housing Department prepares permanent housing.
Sabin Aboitiz, Lead Convenor of PSAC, emphasized the critical role infrastructure plays in economic growth and competitiveness. He expressed the private sector’s commitment to working alongside the government to accelerate infrastructure development, which drives job creation, enhances connectivity, and improves the quality of life for Filipinos.
In addition to ROW concerns, the council discussed the delays hounding the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), a crucial project that will link multiple Metro Manila transit lines. To address the issue, PSAC proposed a temporary operational concept to enable smoother transfers between LRT-1 and MRT-3.
Complex legal processes, acquisition disputes and informal settler families have hounded the execution of infrastructure projects such as the MRT 7 connecting Bulacan to Quezon City, flood control projects in Cebu and others pursued under the Public-Private Partnership or PPP program.
With the proposed measures, PSAC seeks to help the government address infrastructure bottlenecks and foster a more resilient and prosperous Philippines.
