Marcos-led economic council OKs over P280B in infra projects

The Marcos administration’s Economy and Development Council has cleared nearly P281 billion worth of education, transport and agriculture projects in a bid to accelerate inclusive growth and strengthen human capital development.

In a statement, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) said the council approved on Jan. 8 a total of P280.5 billion in infrastructure projects spanning schools, highways and rural connectivity.

“The Marcos administration recognizes the crucial role of rural infrastructure in stimulating economic growth,” DepDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

“These projects go beyond engineering solutions—they are strategic interventions to transform subsistence farming and fishing into competitive, profitable enterprises,” he added.

The approved projects include the P105.7-billion Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project Phase III, which will provide 16,459 new classrooms across more than 1,000 schools in Luzon from March 2027 to March 2028.

The initiative is expected to benefit 800,000 students by reducing average class sizes from 50 to 39 and eliminating multiple-shift schedules for teachers.

According to DepDev, the project will complement the Department of Education’s (DepEd) construction of nearly 250,000 classrooms under the 2026 national budget, where DepEd received a record-high P1.015 trillion allocation.

In the transport sector, the council approved the P145.56-billion Central Mindanao High Standard Highway Construction Project, funded through official development assistance.

The nearly 65-kilometer highway will link Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay, cutting travel time from 6.5 hours to 3.5 hours once completed. The project also includes the construction of 47 bridges, including nine long-span bridges.

Agricultural infrastructure also received a boost with the approval of the P28.24-billion Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka Bridges Project, aimed at increasing the incomes of at least 350,000 households in agrarian reform communities.

Further, the Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program, now totaling P27.69 billion, will be implemented from fiscal year 2026 to 2029, extended from its original 2025 to 2028 time frame.

The program involves the construction of 300 modular steel panel bridges across 15 regions, improving market access for farmers, fisherfolk and rural residents.