The Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines simultaneously inked separate Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with Asia Pacific College and Ateneo de Manila University to expand its partnerships with local academic institutions and cater to college students seeking internships or practicum opportunities in a signing ceremony held at the PPP Center Board Room on March 30, 2026.
The main objectives of these partnerships are to encourage students to participate in the PPP Center’s internship program and to familiarize and immerse them in the Philippine PPP Program. These signed partnerships also provide opportunities to hone a new generation of professionals interested in pursuing careers in PPP, infrastructure, and/or the government sectors.
Signing the agreements on behalf of the PPP Center were Undersecretary and Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre and Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director Eleazar E. Ricote, together with representatives from Asia Pacific College, President Ma. Teresita P. Medado and Executive Director Jo Anne M. de la Cuesta, and from the Ateneo de Manila University Office of Placement and Career Services, Director Ronald Y. Rodriguez.
Citing the young demography of the Center, Undersecretary Blanco-Latorre thanked the schools for trusting the Center to equip students with practical knowledge and hands-on PPP experience.
“We also want to be part of that agenda of introducing public service to our students. So, we thought that through this engagement, we would achieve two things: capacity building and encouraging our students to know more about what we do in the government sector,” Usec. Blanco-Latorre said.
Assistant Secretary Ricote, on the other hand, recognized the past, present, and future partnerships with the academic institutions as an important avenue for training students on how PPPs work, while encouraging them to contribute to nation-building.
“We’ve been in partnership with several academic institutions helping us reach our stakeholders and train them about PPP. Now, we are happy that the academic institutions send their students here to train them on how PPP works, encouraging them to be part of this sector, as well as contributing to nation-building through their professional service,” Assistant Secretary Ricote said.
Expressing her deep gratitude, Asia Pacific College President Mercado thanked the PPP Center for opening its doors for their students to be trained under a professional and safe institution.
APC President Mercado said, “We thank the PPP Center for this opportunity where the students will work with you and will be immersed in your processes and the way you think about the country. It’s more than just our institution and your institution. It is about breeding the right people to serve.”
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila Dir. Rodriguez highlighted the importance of this partnership with inculcating civic and social responsibility for their students.
“We truly appreciate the time and mentorship your team will provide their students. And I am very confident that the knowledge and skills they will gain with your agency will help them discern their future careers.” Dir. Rodriguez said.
These MOAs adhere to Commission on Higher Education’s Memorandum Order No. 104, Series of 2017, which established guidelines for student internships, and enhance their practical training by ensuring alignment with academic learning and promoting safety during the internship period.
The PPP Center actively engages academic and educational institutions to help train future PPP professionals and experts, supporting the nation’s efforts to navigate the ever-dynamic economic and social environment through PPP.
#PPPCenterOfThePhilippines
