Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday, July 16, 2026, underscored the urgent need for a long-term national infrastructure strategy, warning that the Philippines has fallen significantly behind its Southeast Asian neighbors due to decades of insufficient investment in railways and mass transportation.

During the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs’ deliberations on the proposed Master Plan on Infrastructure and National Development Act (MIND Act), chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Ejercito said the country must move away from short-term infrastructure solutions and adopt a comprehensive development blueprint that will survive changes in administration.

Ejercito lamented that the Philippines, which was once regarded as one of the most progressive economies in Asia after Japan, is now trailing behind countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia in terms of railway and mass transit infrastructure.

“We were once second only to Japan in Asia. But today, we are 25 to 30 years behind our neighbors when it comes to railways and mass transit infrastructure,” Ejercito said.

The senator stressed that infrastructure is not only an economic concern but also a key factor in national competitiveness and social development.

“Our country’s infrastructure is the foundation of our economic growth and social progress. This representation firmly believes it is high time to move beyond short-term solutions and adopt a concrete, long-term plan of action,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito said the MIND Act would provide a roadmap for sustained infrastructure investments, ensuring that major projects such as rail systems, public transportation networks, and other strategic developments continue regardless of political changes.

He added that a unified national infrastructure plan is necessary for the Philippines to regain its footing in the region and create better opportunities for economic growth, mobility, and connectivity.