The NEDA mandate encourages a whole-of-government approach by directing national government agencies to automate and computerize their databases. This will promote data sharing among government agencies in order to eliminate the unnecessary duplication of document submission.
To minimize, if not eliminate, delays in implementation of processing of needed documentations for the government's Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Marcos, approved an executive order to facilitate these, specifically through digitalization.
In a Palace briefer, NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan said that the EO would require all government offices, agencies, and instrumentalities including LGUs to streamling the standard procedure and requirements for IFPs for both pending and new applications within the board-approved list of IFPs and any additions to the updated list.
The EO facilitates electronic application submissions to the concerned agencies and local government units (LGU), including the payments and issuance of receipts, permits, licences, certifications, authorizations and the like.
Anti-Red Tape
It also encourages a whole-of-government approach by directing national government agencies to automate and computerize their databases. This will promote data sharing among government agencies in order to eliminate the unnecessary duplication of document submission.
LGUs are also mandated to establish business one-stop shops and are highly encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to adopt interoperable ICT platforms.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority, or ARTA, in coordination with NEDA, shall establish a reporting framework to track agencies’ compliance.
Critical Elements
The Board also approved the reconstitution of the NEDA Board Committee on Infrastructure (INFRACOM), to include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the DICT as integral members of the committee.
The DENR’s inclusion in the INFRACOM underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure development takes into account critical elements such as ecosystem protection, rehabilitation and management, sustainability, and resilience.
Additionally, it ensures representation of the water sector, considering the recently established Water Resource Management Office within the DENR.
"As we recognize the continued significance of ICT in overall infrastructure development, DICT will play a vital role in appropriately integrating ICT-related considerations in the committee’s deliberations and decisions," Balisacan said.
Cost-Sharing
The NEDA Board also confirmed the overall principles and general recommendations for the proposed National Government-LGU Cost-Sharing schemes for financing infrastructure projects to delineate the roles of the national government and the LGUs, particularly in resource-poor areas or where resources may be needed to carry out the devolved functions and shared between them.
Finally, the board also endorsed the proposal to remove tariffs on gypsum and anhydrite, from its current 3 percent, which are not produced locally but are used as raw materials for producing plasterboard and cement, which are commonly used in construction.
"With the reduction in tariffs, we anticipate a decrease in production costs and an improvement in the industry’s competitiveness as we ramp up our infrastructure drive," Balisacan said.
These policy updates reaffirm the administration's commitment to aggressively advance infrastructure development to enable social and economic transformation and support the attainment of our development goals in the medium term.
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