An inter-agency group is drafting a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to streamline and accelerate the processing of locational clearances for strategic investment projects under the Green Lane initiative.
The planned JMC will standardize procedures, clarify agency roles, and ensure consistent implementation across national government agencies and local government units (LGUs). The measures are expected to reduce delays, eliminate redundant requirements, and provide more predictable permitting timelines, helping sustain investor confidence, particularly in renewable energy and other high-impact sectors.
The Board of Investments-One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (BOI-OSACSI) announced the initiative after convening an inter-agency meeting to address persistent bottlenecks in locational clearance processing for projects covered by Executive Order (EO) No. 18, or the Green Lane Initiative.
Participating agencies included the BOI, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of BOI Investments Assistance Service Director Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr., Lubin R. De Vera Jr. said locational clearance remains a major bottleneck in project implementation, citing varying LGU requirements and outdated planning documents as key factors affecting project timelines and investor confidence.
He said the meeting aims “to move beyond discussion and work toward concrete, actionable solutions that will strengthen coordination and improve service delivery.”
The BOI said the initiative supports EO No. 18, signed in 2023, which institutionalized Green Lanes for strategic investments through a whole-of-government approach to modernize and expedite permitting. Since its establishment, the initiative has facilitated hundreds of projects across priority sectors, highlighting the need for more efficient and predictable regulatory processes.
The inter-agency meeting followed the 6th Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting on EO No. 18, where locational clearance was identified as a persistent bottleneck, prompting a dedicated discussion to develop concrete solutions.
Among the issues raised were varying LGU requirements, limited awareness of DHSUD Department Order No. 2025-019, outdated or missing Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), and overlapping agency mandates affecting project implementation.
The participating agencies also underscored the need to strengthen information dissemination, expand capacity-building efforts for LGUs, and continue joint process improvements to enhance regulatory efficiency.
The meeting highlighted the importance of close coordination between national government agencies and LGUs in promoting clear, consistent, and investment-friendly regulatory processes aligned with the Ease of Doing Business agenda.
