The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has approved four major public investment projects aimed at improving transportation, workforce development, energy security, and disaster resilience, clearing them for final review by the Economy and Development (ED) Council chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The ICC-CC is a high-level interagency body under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) tasked with evaluating and approving major government projects before they are elevated to the ED Council. It ensures that proposed investments are economically viable, fiscally sound, and aligned with national development priorities.

Among the approved projects is the LRT-1 Common Station project, which will pave the way for the construction of the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS) along North Avenue in Quezon City. The transit hub will connect LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway, creating a seamless interchange for an estimated 1.28 million passengers daily and unlocking the full benefits of Metro Manila’s expanding rail network.

Finance Secretary and ICC-CC Chair Frederick Go said the project is expected to shorten travel times, reduce commuting costs, and improve access to economic opportunities across the capital.

The committee also approved the Boosting Employability in Strategic TVET Sectors (BEST) project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which seeks to expand access to industry-aligned technical and vocational training in high-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction, information and communications technology, and agri-fishery. The program aims to improve employability, raise incomes, and strengthen the country’s skilled labor pipeline.

Also receiving ICC-CC approval was the Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility (PGRDF), a project backed by a sovereign loan from the Asian Development Bank and to be implemented through Land Bank of the Philippines. The facility is designed to reduce the financial risks associated with early-stage geothermal exploration, encouraging greater private-sector investment in geothermal energy and helping strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.

The fourth project, the Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project (PSRRRP) of the Department of Public Works and Highways, will focus on retrofitting school buildings in Metro Manila and enhancing the agency’s disaster response capabilities. The initiative aims to improve earthquake preparedness and ensure that critical public infrastructure remains safe and operational during major seismic events.

The Department of Finance said the projects reflect the government’s continued commitment to investing in infrastructure and human capital, supporting the administration’s goal of building a more connected, competitive, resilient, and inclusive economy.