MANILA—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the Accelerated and Reformed Right-Of-Way (ARROW) Act (Republic Act No. 12289) into law on September 12, 2025, marking a critical step toward eliminating the right-of-way (ROW) bottlenecks that have long delayed key national infrastructure projects. 

Sponsored by Senator Mark Villar, the law amends the previous Right-of-Way Act and introduces sweeping reforms to both fast-track property acquisition and guarantee just compensation for affected landowners. This landmark legislation is a top priority of the administration, aimed at accelerating the construction of roads, railways, energy and water systems, and other vital infrastructure across the country.

The ARROW Act implements several key provisions to streamline the acquisition process. It standardizes the government's initial price offer for negotiated sales by basing it on the Schedule of Market Values (SMV) under R.A. No. 12001, ensuring a consistent and fair valuation system. 

Furthermore, the act enhances transparency and accountability. Implementing agencies and private entities are now required to publish key information about ROW acquisition on their official websites, ensuring public disclosure of the status of claims in compliance with the Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173).

A significant part of the reform is the expanded accountability for all parties involved. Since the ARROW Act covers both government and private entity projects, officers of private entities providing public services can now be held accountable and may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of the Act. 

This stricter compliance mechanism is designed to enforce fair ROW acquisition procedures uniformly. The law is expected to boost investor confidence in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and ultimately hasten the delivery of essential services, leading to safer roads, shorter commutes, and more reliable utilities for the Filipino people.

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