GMA News, 23 December 2014

At least nine projects worth over P700 billion will be rolled out next year under the administration’s flagship public-private partnership (PPP) program, the PPP Center announced on Tuesday.
PPP executive director Cosette Canilao, in a press briefing, said “more or less nine projects as of today” will be rolled out next year.
The projects are:
  • P374.5-billlion Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transit System Loop
  • P177.215-billion North-South Railway Project (South Line)
  • P50.18-billion Regional Prison Facilities through PPP
  • P35.4-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
  • P25.6-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector Road
  • P19.332-billion Motor Vehicle Inspection System Project
  • P18.99-billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project
  • P1.161-billion Civil Registry System-IT Project (Phase II)
  • P400-million Tanauan City Public Market
  • The PPP Center is currently bidding out 12 projects
Canilao said the agency hopes to start the bidding process for the CALAX and the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road in the first quarter of 2015.
On the other hand, the North-South Railway Project, Motor Vehicle Inspection System Project, Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transit System Loop, and Civil Registry System-IT Project will be rolled out first or second quarter next year after the approval of Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-CabCom.
The Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project might be rolled out before the end of this year or very early next year, she said.

Rebidding of CALAX 

Meanwhile, the PPP chief said the rebidding of CALAX was approved by the ICC CabCom during its Dec. 22 meeting.
President Benigno Aquino III has decided to rebid the project that was auctioned in June.
Canilao said the project will undergo a one-stage bidding process wherein there will be a simulations submission of three envelopes — qualification documents, technical proposal, and financial proposal.
The ICC-CabCom has also approved the conversion of NLEX-SLEX Connector Road project to “unsolicited” from joint venture.
The project aims to connect the NLEX and SLEX. It involves the construction and operation and maintenance of a 13.4-kilometer, four-lane elevated  expressway which starts in Caloocan City and ends in Buendia, Makati City.
Also approved by the panel was the Tanauan City Public Market project. It is the first local government unit (LGU) PPP project approved by the ICC-CabCom, Canilao noted.
“We are hoping this will be replicated to other LGUs aiming to get the private sector to be their partner,” she said.
The ICC-CabCom will meet on Jan. 14 to take up other projects including the Civil Registry System-IT Project (Phase II), North-South Railway Project, and Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transit System Loop.
“We’re hoping that we’ll able to get a NEDA board meeting by end of January to secure approval for these projects and roll out these projects first quarter or early second quarter of next year,” she further noted.
Also in the PPP pipeline is the Batangas-Manila (BatMan) 1 Natural Gas Pipeline Project.
Meanwhile, Canilao announced that the PPP Center will have a roadshow in February next year in North America.
Canilao said the agency hopes to get investors based in New York, Toronto, and Montreal. — RSJ, GMA News
By KATHRYN MAE P. TUBADEZ