The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has strongly called for the passage of the strengthened Right of Way (ROW) bill without delay and come up with decisive policies to enable the Philippines to catch up with the progressive infrastructure developments of its neighboring countries.
In a statement, FFCCCII described the ROW problem in the country as a “systemic failure” in infrastructure development and not mere mere bureaucratic inefficiencies. This failure, FFCCCII said represents “nothing less than a national crisis of competitiveness, one that undermines economic growth, erodes our regional standing, and deprives millions of Filipinos of the modern connectivity they deserve.”
FFCCCII, which is composed of of 170 Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce and diverse industry associations– local chambers nationwide, explained that the proposed ROW amendments are not minor adjustments but essential reforms to break this cycle of failure.
They also pushed for standardized valuation based on fair market principles, guaranteed funding for land acquisition, and structured resettlement programs address the root causes of delay: arbitrary pricing, fiscal uncertainty, and inadequate planning. The inclusion of interim rental subsidies for affected residents further demonstrates that progress and compassion are not mutually exclusive—they are inseparable.
To those who would prioritize procedural obstruction over national progress, FFCCCII posed this challenge: “Where is the justice in a system that leaves landowners waiting years for compensation while the nation stagnates? The true injustice lies in denying our people the infrastructure that drives opportunity, employment, and prosperity. A modern ROW law ensures both fairness and efficiency—delivering prompt, just compensation while unlocking projects that will benefit generations.”
The statement, signed by FFCCCII President Victor Lim, pointed out to delays in major infrastructure projects. For instance, the Metro Manila Subway, already delayed by four years due to ROW disputes, represents billions in lost productivity, stifled investment, and prolonged suffering for commuters trapped in endless congestion. The North-South Commuter Railway and LRT-1 Cavite Extension face the same fate. “We cannot—we must not—allow legal and bureaucratic inertia to strangle our future,” FFCCCII said.
Lim further added that the cost of inaction is unconscionable.
The FFCCCII urges the 19th Congress to act with the urgency this crisis demands. Infrastructure is the foundation of economic vitality, and every day of delay widens the gap between the Philippines and its thriving neighbors. The time for debate has passed; the time for decisive action is now. Let us shed the legacy of hesitation, embrace the lessons of global success, and finally secure the future our nation deserves.
Lim pointed to “irrefutable” evidence on the country’s infrastructure developments.
While Asian and ASEAN neighbors surge ahead with world-class infrastructure, FFCCCII said the Philippines remains shackled by self-imposed paralysis.
It cited China’s vast high-speed rail network—the largest in the world—stands as testament to what decisive ROW policies can achieve.
Also, Japan’s Shinkansen, a marvel of efficiency, was built upon a legal framework that prioritizes national progress over procedural stagnation.
Even Vietnam, once trailing in development, now outpaces us with expanding metro systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. “The question is no longer whether we can afford to act—it is whether we can afford not to,” FFCCCII concluded.
