A lawmaker on Thursday filed legislation to establish a 30-year infrastructure development roadmap, a move intended to prevent political transitions from disrupting long-term public works.

Senate Bill 1652, titled the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act, would mandate a comprehensive master plan integrated into the government’s budgeting and programming processes.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said the measure aims to “lock in” development goals and “lock out” political interference as infrastructure spending continues to rise.

“With infrastructure taking a bigger piece of the budgetary pie, we need to ensure that every peso is spent on projects that truly benefit ordinary Filipinos,” said the senator.

According to Department of Budget and Management data cited by the senator, national infrastructure allocations grew by an average of 7.9 percent annually between 2022 and 2025.

The lawmaker cited that anchoring the master plan in law would protect major projects from being scrapped or altered when a new administration takes office.

“When the master plan is anchored in law, it cannot be easily changed, and important infrastructure can continue even when those in power change,” he said.

The bill proposes the creation of the MIND Council to oversee the plan’s formulation and monitoring. The president of the Philippines would chair the council, with the secretary of economy, planning, and development serving as vice chair.

The proposed roadmap would cover a broad range of sectors, including energy, water, information technology, and social infrastructure like housing and health care. It also includes transportation, agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics.

The senator said the measure addresses long-standing issues such as fragmented planning and inefficient spending on low-impact projects. He expressed hope the bill would streamline investments and help sustain the country’s economic growth.