GMA News, 21 December 2012

 

As 2012 draws to a close, the government caps the year announcing it was able to meet its  roll-out target of eight infrastructure projects and identifying 16 more big-ticket items that would be added to the administration’s flagship public-private partnership (PPP) program before the term of President Benigno Aquino III ends in 2016.

On Friday, PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao bared programs that are already in the advanced stages of project review, and could be added to the list of projects for bidding.
The projects are:
1. Sky-way stage 3
2. MRT line 7
3. Civil Registration System – Information Technology Project Phase 2
4. Talisay City Plaza Complex Heritage Restoration and Redevelopment Project
5. $35.7-million construction and operation of Cold Chain Centers in major
production and consolidation areas of agri-fishery products of the Benguet-Manila cold chain route
6. $190.50-million enhancement of operation and maintenance (O&M) of Panglao Airport in Bohol
7. $42.9-million O&M of Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental
8. $9.30-million Grains Central Project that will upgrade existing Post-Harvest Processing and Trading Centers currently managed and operated by the National Agribusiness Corporation
9. O&M of LRT Line 2
10. O&M of Puerto Princesa Airport
11. New Centennial Water Supply to address the need for an additional source of water supply
12. Rehabilitation of the Quirino Highway Project
13. Integrated Transport System Project that involves the establishment of three mass transportation inter-modal terminals at the outskirts of Metro Manila
14. Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project involving construction of treated water transmission mains
15. El Nido Water Supply and Sanitation System Project  establishing water supply system and sanitation project
16. Regional Prison Facilities through PPP.
“These are potential PPPs that could be rolled-out throughout the Aquino administration,” said Canilao, noting that the final project costs and specifics are still to be determined.
8 projects for 2012
Canilao announced the roll-out of eight infrastructure projects, following the the publication of the invitation to pre-qualify for bidding on the School Infrastructure Project Phase 2 and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
“The biggest news that I believe would interest everyone is the fact that we have reached our target of eight PPP projects for roll-out this year ” said Canilao.
Of the eight projects, one was awarded last September — the School Infrastructure Project Phase 1 won by the combined groups of BF Corp.-Riverbanks Development Corp. and Citicore Investments Holdings Inc.-Megawide Construction Corp.
The other five projects rolled-out this year were:
  • NAIA Expressway Phase II
  • LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension and O&M
  • Modernization of Philippine Orthopedic Center
  • Rehabilitation, O&M of Angat Hydro-Electric Power Plant Auxiliary Turbines
  • Automatic Fare Collection System.
The government still has to invite bidders for the Cavite-Laguna expressway project, which was approved by President Benigno S. Aquino III on Nov. 30,  while the  Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Project Phase 2 is awaiting approval at the Cabinet level.
Canilao said, “We have tried to keep up with the demands of work. I think the government did a pretty good job, and with the highest sense of integrity, efficiency and accountability.”
The eight projects were a huge jump from only one rolled-out last year –  the P1.96-billion Daang Hari- South Luzon Expressway Link Road project awarded to Ayala Corp.
The government unveiled the PPP program to investors in late 2010. But stringent project reviews and putting in place rules on project selection marred delays in the roll-out of the program.
“When we first unveiled the project, we don’t know where to start. Wala pang established guidelines, because we were doing this for the first time,” Canilao said.
“Now that we have put in place guidelines on project prioritization and rules on contract, the challenge is to sustain the momentum,” she noted. — VS, GMA News