Source: Philippine Star, 28 March 2012
MANILA, Philippines – Eight of 17 public-private partnership (PPP) projects are expected to be laid out this year, on top of the P1.6-billion Daang Hari road project in Cavite, President Aquino told businessmen in Makati City yesterday.
“We intend to roll out about eight of them this year. We want an accelerated program for the PPP itself,” he said during the Philippine Investment Forum at The Peninsula Manila hotel.
“I have instructed the economic cluster and also the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) specifically. There has to be more speed in terms of giving a thumbs up or a thumbs down to all the various projects under consideration,” Aquino stressed.
Included in the eight are two prominent projects – the P60-billion 12-kilometer Light Rail Transit Line 1 that will extend to Bacoor, Cavite and the connector between the South Luzon (SLEX) and North Luzon (NLEX) Expressways.
“We cannot afford to think of decades upon decades. We are missing the opportunities that are already extant. So for this year, we are very excited about generating a lot of interest in the PPP programs for infrastructure,” he added.
“There is a need to really expand our gateways and various studies are underway to determine exactly how to achieve that. Of course, the road networks, the airports are very, very essential,” Aquino explained.
The Chief Executive also revealed plans to significantly improve the country’s current nautical highway by cutting from the usual three days to a mere 15 hours the travel time from Luzon to Mindanao.
“This nautical highway is something also that is high up in the radar list that hopefully will be accomplished,” he said.
“One thing that I keep telling the Cabinet, why is it that produce from Mindanao, especially the seafood, hardly gets to Manila?”
The Aquino administration plans to further invigorate its PPP program, particularly in the second half of this year.
In support of this goal, the NEDA reported that at least six PPP projects would have already been bidded out by the end of the first semester this year.
“Growth will also be energized by improving prospects in external demand for local goods and services, particularly from emerging economies. Among others, we’re looking at increasing demand from the semiconductor and electronics industries as major influences in the economy this year,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.
The Department of Budget and Management chief added that there is much optimism in continuing growth propelled by OFW remittances, projected to spike by 6-7 percent annually.
The President likewise urged businessmen to invest in the Philippines, citing recent economic gains and measures against graft and corruption.
“We have reformed the manner in which we allocate and dispense public funds; we have thrown the book at the thieves; and we are collecting what is due to the government.”
He cited the record-high performance of the stock market, increased investments in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and increased visitor arrivals in the country as among the indicators of confidence in the Philippines.
According to the Chief Executive two major shipbuilding companies are currently setting up operations in the country, but declined to name them.
Aside from the PPP projects, Aquino added that the government is focusing on agriculture and tourism to generate more jobs.
He also said that doing business has also been made easier by streamlining the processes and fostering a “stable and predictable” business environment to attract more businesses to set up operations here.
“Suffice it to say: we are proud of the progress we have made, but we are not satisfied with just this. We Filipinos know just how much potential this country has; and we are working even harder to fulfill this potential,” he said.
