03 August 2012, Public Information Agency
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Aug 3 (PIA) — The vice mayor of Butuan City has urged delegates of the 21st Mindanao Business Conference to invest in Butuan through the public-private partnership (PPP).
Butuan City has already put in place all the policies and the necessary legislation that would cater to PPP projects, vice mayor Lawrence Fortun said during the opening ceremonies of the conference on August 2 to 4 in a hotel and convention center in this city.
One of the major aspects in the city government’s preparation is the passage of the ordinance laying down the guidelines for PPP projects dubbed the “PPP Code of Butuan City,” which was authored by Fortun.
Fortun said Butuan City became the first city in the Philippines to craft such ordinance and is now ready to accommodate PPP projects in the city.
“Contained in the ordinance are the guidelines as well as the 16 modalities of PPP projects and the eligible projects that are offered to the private investors,” Fortun said.
Fortun added that these initiatives of laying down the foundation of PPP projects and joint venture undertakings is a clear manifestation of the cohesive and healthy partnership within the local government of Butuan under the leadership of Mayor Ferdinand “Jun” Amante.
He also mentioned in his speech the several projects in the pre-implementation stage for which some of these projects is expected to be implemented within the year such as the mini-hydro power plant and the biomass fuel generation which will be undertaken between a local company Equi-Parco Construction Co. and Japanese investors.
It is expected that the coming in of investors that would be willing to partner with the local government and invest in several projects would redound to the benefit of the people of Butuan in terms of jobs and other indirect livelihood. (NCLM/Eldie N. David/BC-VMO-PIA13 Caraga)
