Source: Business World, 20 February 2012
JAPANESE FIRMS were invited on Friday to engage in public-private partnerships (PPP) in the transport and road sectors, particularly on projects in the pipeline.
In a seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization and the PPP Center, Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said outside the indicative list of PPP projects lined up for this year, the government is looking into the construction or rehabilitation of national bridges and two major roads in Luzon that may form part of the list.
Mr. Singson said the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation is conducting field validation of 139 national bridges to be proposed for PPP, with the Department of Public Works and Highways eyeing an invitation to bid for the projects in October.
The government is also expected to conduct a business case study in July to include in the program the improvement, operation and maintenance of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway — two major links to Baguio City from La Union province in Northern Luzon totaling 80.86 kilometers.
Another possible PPP project is the operation and maintenance of Quirino Highway, for which a business case study is expected to begin in April under the PPP Center’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility. Quirino Highway is a 93.45-kilometer thoroughfare traversing the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
On the status of projects already included in the PPP Center’s 2012 list, Mr. Singson said he is expecting the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by the President, to approve the P14.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Project Phase II this month.
NEDA Board approval is also being eyed for the P11.8-billion Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway Project in May; the P44.6-billion C-6 Expressway and Global Link Project (South Section) in June; and the P20.2-billion North and South Luzon Expressway (NLEx-SLEx) Connector Project in July, he added.
In the same event, Transportation Undersecretary Rene K. Limcaoco said the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 South Extension Project will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee by the end of the month.
The feasibility study for the Mactan-Cebu airport has also been finalized while studies are still being conducted for airport projects in Puerto Princesa, Laguindingan, Bohol and Legazpi.
For his part, Koki Hirota, Japan International Cooperation Agency director-general for South Asia and the Pacific, cited Japan’s support for feasibility studies on the NAIA Expressway, Central Luzon Link Expressway, CALA Expressway, Bohol Airport, the LRT Line 2 Extension and NLEx-SLEx Connector.
In his speech during the event, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. said “the government has put into place a business environment characterized by broader emphasis on transparency, accountability and good governance.”
He cited moves to enhance private sector investments in development projects such as proposed changes to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law and, pending their approval, revisions to the implementing rules and regulations to the same law that “will soon take affect.”
Also noted were changes that are “being finalized” to the Guidelines and Procedures for Entering into Joint Venture Agreements between the Government and Private Entities.
“We have received further instructions from President [Benigno S. C.] Aquino [II] to further streamline the PPP process,” Mr. Paderanga said.
Meanwhile, PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said the original indicative list of PPP projects that may be rolled out this year is growing in number.
“With the addition of the LRT-1 South Extension Project of the Department of Transportation and Communication, 17 PPP initiatives are now on our list,” Ms. Canilao said.
On Jan. 8, the Department of Education has posted an invitation to prequalify to bid for the P10.4-billion classroom project, the first PPP project to move this year. — K. A. M. Patria
