MANILA – As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to boost development in the regions, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) headed by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and Public-Private Partnership Center Executive Director Ferdinand A. Pecson signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) jointly setting up PPP Knowledge Corners in 15 NEDA Regional Offices across the country.
This move will help step up the uptake of PPPs in the regions and provide the PPP Center a regional presence.
The knowledge corners will serve as information hubs on PPPs, where local government units (LGUs), government implementing agencies and other stakeholders can get accurate and updated information and knowledge on PPPs including access to all PPP Center’s services to help them develop and implement bankable PPP projects.
“We recognize the essential role that PPPs will play to support the success of the government’s Build Build Build program. One of the recent strategic thrusts of the PPP program is focused on project development at the local level or at the LGUs,” Pernia said during the signing ceremony.
Pernia also acknowledged the collaborative work of the PPP Center under Undersecretary Pecson and the NEDA Regional Development Office, headed by Undersecretary Adoracion M. Navarro, for laying the groundwork in operationalizing the establishment of PPP knowledge corners.
For his part, PPP Center chief Ferdinand Pecson said, “We are approaching this with a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.”
Pernia noted that putting up the PPP Knowledge Corners will support the government’s intensified efforts to help develop and implement PPPs at the local level, a key in the PPP Center’s LGU PPP Strategy.
The LGU PPP strategy is the PPP Center’s focused assistance to LGUs through capacity building and technical assistance in pursuing bankable local PPP projects. Also part of the strategy is to foster stronger collaboration among local public or private capacity building institutions and other critical local development stakeholders.
Pernia likewise underscored the Duterte administration’s commitment to spread out economic growth to other regions. Of the administration’s 75 flagship infrastructure projects, 50 will be rolled out in the regions outside Metro Manila.
“This LGU PPP strategy builds on the Administration’s thrust to expand development in the regions and spread economic growth outside Metro Manila,” Pernia said.
NEDA has regional offices in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCKSARGEN, and Caraga region.
