PSAC pushes ROW Office to fast-track infrastructure

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has recommended establishing a Right-of-Way (ROW) Office under the Office of the President to streamline land acquisition and accelerate infrastructure projects.

During a March 20 meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., PSAC’s Infrastructure Sector, led by PSAC lead convenor and Aboitiz Equity Ventures President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz, proposed the initiative to fast-track key projects under the Build Better More program.

PSAC highlighted ROW acquisition delays caused by legal disputes, court backlogs, and bureaucratic inefficiencies as major obstacles to infrastructure development. 

The council also cited inconsistent funding and poor coordination among agencies as additional challenges.

Marcos acknowledged the need for a dedicated ROW team, stating, “The ROW Office, certainly I think that we have to do it. We have to do something as this is something that always comes up and the main reason why we are always delayed, and we have added cost.”

The proposed ROW Office would collaborate with government agencies to resolve disputes and assign dedicated lawyers to priority sectors such as transportation, energy, telecommunications, and water.

To ensure consistent ROW funding, PSAC suggested allocating a portion of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC) for land purchases and re-establishing a multi-year obligation allocation for continuous funding beyond annual budgets. 

It also urged the Department of Budget and Management and the Public-Private Partnership Center to align ROW budget planning with national projects to secure upfront funding.

Marcos also expressed interest in reviewing the pending Right-of-Way bill in the Senate, stating, “Let’s check the legislative status and let’s see.” — DVM, GMA Integrated News