The Manila Times, 19 December 2013

By Kristyn Nika M. Lazo

 

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said that it is targeting a minimum of 50 projects in various stages of progress by 2016.

PPP Executive Director Cosette Canilao told reporters at the PPP Center yearend press conference that the 50 targeted projects in the pipeline would include at least 15 PPP contracts signed, 10 infrastructure projects handed over to private sector for operation and maintenance, and seven projects completed.

The PPP Center said that the target is to finish seven project by the end of the President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s term, including the Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Road, PPP School Infrastructure Project Phase (PSIP) 1 and 2, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Phase 2, Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS), Integrated Transport System, and the Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (MPOC).

“Right now, 19 of those come from transport, about 11 from DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] . . . Despite current pipeline, we still have a lot to develop . . . [We also have] social infrastructure projects like DepEd [Department of Education] and Department of Health, so we would see more of that,” the PPP official said.

Canilao also said that the seven projects to be completed would be “very doable” within the President’s term, as the PPP Center manifested “fair and open” processes that attracts not only local, but also foreign investors mostly from Europe and other Asian countries.

Based on PPP records, the Aquino administration has signed and awarded five projects: MPOC, PSIP Phase 1 and 2, NAIA Expressway and Daang Hari, which would be added with two more projects—Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and AFCS “by the end of December or January 2014.”

PPP projects awarded under previous administrations since 1990 include 10 under former President Corazon Aquino, 33 under former President Fidel Ramos, eight under former President Joseph Estrada, and 11 under former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga with 11.

The targeted 50 signed projects by 2016 would cost an estimated P222 billion.

Canilao said that the government obtained a total revenue of P27.4 billion for the four awarded projects, which include the NAIA Expressway (P11 billion), AFCS (P1.9 billion), Daang Hari (P902 million) and MCIA (P14.4 billion).

Furthermore, Canilao and PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Jose Emmanuel Reverente said that they are looking at “speeding up” the processes and response to bidders to meet targets and to attract more investors.

“The challenge next year is to market [the PPP projects] not only to foreign players, but also to local players. The success of Megawide should serve as inspiration . . . investors abroad to also get involved in our projects. [The challenge is] to really market our projects in the pipeline to foreign and local investors,” Canilao said.
Megawide and its Indian partner topped the recent bidding for the MCIA.