Source: The Manila Times, 18 February 2012
With its substantial role in the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016, the public-private partnership (ppp) program is considered by the Aquino administration as a more focused strategy to attain growth for all Filipinos, National Economic Development Authority Director (neda) Director General Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said in a speech during the Japan External Trade Organization Public-Private Partnership Seminar held at the Dusit Thani hotel in Makati City on Friday.
However, Paderanga said that the PPP can only work well if all participating partners are assured of getting a fair deal. “The Philippine government has put into place a business environment characterized by broader emphasis on transparency, accountability and good governance,” he added.
Paderanga also said that the aforementioned environment should be able to create new jobs, improve delivery of basic socioeconomic services, and encourage positive economic growth.
As investor confidence in the country is improving, now is the time to consider taking advantage of the investment opportunities in the Philippines, he noted.
This confidence, Paderanga said, led the international financial community to rate the Philippines as the third most preferred market in the world for global fund managers.
He also mentioned that despite the global economic crisis, the Philippine economy has remained robust and resilient, growing by 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011.
On the other hand, the NEDA director general reported that the government has initiated necessary amendments to the existing Build-Operate-Transfer Law guidelines and procedures for entering into joint venture agreements between the government and private entities, that are yet to be finalized for a more transparent and level playing field.
“Currently, various government agencies have their own PPP Units and, with the assistance of the PPP Center of the Philippines, [we] are reviewing and evaluating how to structure development projects into the PPP scheme,” he added.
Paderanga noted that PPP programs vary from conventional projects, like toll roads, railway lines, airport passenger terminals and water supply projects.
At present, the government has 16 PPP infrastructure projects such as airports, roads and rail, as well as water projects.
“We have the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, the new Bohol Airport, Mactan Airport, Puerto Princesa Airport, the LRT [Light Rail Transit] Line 1 and Line 2, and the Balara water hub and Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant for its operation and maintenance,” Paderanga said.
He also thanked the Japan government for its continued support to improve the country’s investment environment through its Official Development Assistance.
Paderanga also revealed that the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee recently approved Phase I of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project that will be funded through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The cLlex will integrate the Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and the Cagayan Valley region with Metro Manila and the rest of Northern Luzon, which is consistent with the Aquino administration’s regional growth strategy.
