The Economy and Development Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has approved a package of infrastructure, energy, human capital and digital initiatives, including an artificial intelligence master plan, a geothermal de-risking facility and upgrades to the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Common Station.
The approvals, made during the council’s 10th meeting on July 7, also include a ₱15.76-billion Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training program for official development assistance financing.
Among the key projects is a variation order for the long-delayed LRT-1 Common Station, which will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3 and MRT-7 lines and eventually link to the under-construction Metro Manila Subway.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development did not disclose the cost of the approved variation order, which covers station completion, viaduct works, signaling and fare system integration. Interim operations of the transport hub are targeted by March 2028.
“This is a key step toward an integrated transport system that will improve the daily travel experience for thousands of Filipinos, helping them reach jobs, schools, services and opportunities faster and more conveniently,” Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
The council also endorsed TESDA’s skills development project, which will train workers for high-demand industries, including manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fisheries, and information technology.
“As we aim to sustain our upper-middle-income status, one critical aspect is to ensure that we equip Filipinos with the skills aligned with the needs of high-quality jobs. We will maximize this project to build our competitive workforce moving forward,” Balisacan said.
In the energy sector, the council approved the Department of Energy’s ₱10.07-billion geothermal de-risking facility, which aims to reduce exploration risks and encourage more investment in geothermal development.
The council also approved the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Master Plan 2026-2033, which seeks to position the Philippines as a regional AI infrastructure hub. In a separate action, it approved revisions to a seismic risk reduction project covering public schools in Metro Manila.
“Together, these initiatives strengthen the foundations of long-term growth by improving connectivity, developing human capital, enhancing clean energy, disaster resilience and advancing digital transformation,” Balisacan said.
