Iloilo City – A total of 53 projects to be implemented under the public-private partnership scheme, including the proposed expansion of the Iloilo International Airport are now in the pipeline.

Speaking before members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas last Friday, Undersecretary Andre C. Palacios, PPP Center Executive Director said the expansion of the airport in Iloilo is among the projects falling under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

He added that 60 percent of the projects on the pipeline are DOTC projects.

The expansion of Iloilo’s international airport, which an estimated budget totaling P30.4 billion is part of five regional airport projects included in the PPP.

“The idea is to increase capacity before we have congestion like in Manila,” he said, adding that the Iloilo airport is already nearing its capacity.

The airport expansion project has yet to be subjected to bidding procedures.

Meanwhile, Palacios expressed hope that the 53 viable projects will attract more international players.

“The reason that we want international players is that the increased competition is actually better for the end-user. The project will become of better quality and cheaper,” he said.

He also disclosed that they have already awarded 12 projects, higher than their prior target of only 10 projects. Three projects were completed, short of their five targets while four are under implementation.

In his message during the meeting with RDC-VI members, Palacios encouraged local government units and national agencies to visit the PPP center for possible technical support and even avail of international consultants with no cash outs.

PPP, he said, is the third and last option in the development of projects.

“It offers last option because not all infrastructure projects should be through PPP,” he said.

25 June 2016
By Philippines News Agency