Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Eleazar E. Ricote served as a resource speaker at the workshop on “Exploring Strategic Collaboration Between Finland and the Philippines Through Smart Technologies in Smart City & Infrastructure” on October 24, 2024, at the Fairmont Hotel, Makati City. This workshop brought together stakeholders from both countries to discuss collaborative opportunities in infrastructure development, focusing on transportation and mobility advancements in the Philippines.
In his opening remarks, Asec. Ricote highlighted the role of PPPs in attaining the country’s developmental goals. He stressed the enactment of Republic Act No. 11966, or the PPP Code of the Philippines, as one of the main drivers of the Philippine government to expedite infrastructure development and economic growth in the country.
Asec. Ricote also emphasized the expanded function of the PPP Code and its role in enabling smart city development through PPPs. Under the new law, PPP projects must ensure the integration of climate resilience, sustainability, and gender and development policies throughout all stages of the project development.
He also encouraged private sector involvement in PPPs, underscoring their role and importance in supporting policy and institutional preparedness, fostering holistic and integrated planning approaches, and improving government’s digital capacity to support smart city development.
“Through PPPs, private sector partners may develop, provide, and maintain the smart city infrastructure or service, or provide smart city solutions to varying infrastructure sectors like transport and mobility, information and communications technology, property development, among others,” Asec. Ricote said.
This workshop reinforces the PPP Center’s commitment to championing PPPs by advocating for strategic partnerships and collaborations with partner institutions and foreign and local stakeholders to promote and develop sustainable PPPs in the country.
