The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center convened the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Offices (NRO) Annual PPP Congress from September 17 to 19, 2024, at Ardenhills Suites, Quezon City. This year’s Congress centered on the new roles and responsibilities of NROs under the newly enacted Republic Act No. 11966, or the PPP Code, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The Congress brought together PPP Knowledge Corner focal persons from fifteen NROs, with each office sending up to two representatives.

Ms. Cynthia C. Hernandez, Undersecretary and Executive Director of the PPP Center and Mr. Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, Undersecretary, Regional Development Group of NEDA delivered warm welcome and opening remarks for the the NRO Congress.

“This Congress is significant as it highlights the PPP Center’s continued collaboration with the NROs through the PPP Knowledge Corners initiative, which began in 2018 with the signing of our Memorandum of Agreement and the establishment of the Knowledge Corners as extensions of the PPP Center’s services across the regions” emphasized by Executive Director Hernandez.

The Congress began with an overview of the roles of NROs under the PPP Code and its IRR, emphasizing their responsibilities at each stage of a PPP project. This session was led by Ms. Feroisa Francisca T. Concordia, Director IV of the Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service of the PPP Center.

Mr. Jeffrey I. Manalo, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of the PPP Center, then led an in-depth discussion of the specific roles of the NRO under the recently-issued “Guidelines and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Local PPP Projects by the Appropriate Approving Body under the PPP Code of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and Regulations”.

The NRO Congress also included a practical session on conducting a completeness check for a PPP project proposal, handled by Mr. John Emmanuel R. Pronto, Director III of the Policy Formulation, Project Evaluation, and Monitoring Service at the PPP Center. This was followed by an interactive workshop where participants were divided into groups to focus on Feasibility Studies, Economic Models, and Financial Models, with guidance from facilitators Mr. Charls Darwin E. Deimoy, Ms. Camila S. Buduan-Eugenio, and Ms. Frida V. Corpuz of the Center’s Project Evaluation Division.

Participants then presented their workshop outputs, which was followed by open discussions for feedback and clarifications. The Congress culminated with a synthesis of key takeaways delivered by Atty. Cyris Ann A. Ng-Santiago, Director III of the Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service, and closing remarks by Mr. Eleazar E. Ricote, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of the PPP Center.

This NRO PPP Congress not only highlighted the PPP Center’s vital role in guiding and supporting the NROs but also reinforced its commitment to advancing the PPP Program. Through this gathering, the PPP Center empowered the NROs with the essential knowledge and tools to excel in their new responsibilities under the PPP Code, ensuring a robust and effective implementation of local PPP projects.