Three months after its previous executive director stepped down from office, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines now has a new chief.

Executive Director Ma. Cynthia C. Hernandez, whose appointment was signed by the President in August 2022, took her ceremonial oath of office before Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan on Friday, September 16, 2022.

Stepping into the role of the PPP Center’s executive director and backed with a fresh mandate from the President to pursue PPPs as a mechanism for infrastructure growth and innovation, Hernandez shared her vision of what PPPs can bring to the development efforts of the country.

“Since there is a renewed interest in public-private partnerships, and given that the Philippine government has expedited the amendments to the 2022 version of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, we are hopeful that the PPP Center will be instrumental in spurring economic growth in the country. With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ support, we are optimistic that we will be able to increase the number of quality PPP projects in the country, ” the Center’s new chief said.

“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to serve the Philippine government. I am optimistic that under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who champions the revitalization of PPPs in the country, we will be able to help drive economic development, and provide every Filipino with high-quality life,” Hernandez added.

Before joining the PPP Center, Hernandez was a Principal for Deal Advisory at KMPG/R.G Manabat & Co., where she was also the Sector Head for Infrastructure, Energy and Natural Resources. She has accumulated 22 years of experience in corporate finance, valuation, business advisory, and strategy and corporate planning in both the private and public sectors.

Hernandez has also worked for large corporations such as Aboitiz Power Corp., and Manila Electric Company (MERALCO). She also worked for Government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) such as Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp (PSALM), and the PNOC-Petrochemical Development Corp.

Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines (UP) and a master’s degree in Development Economics, which she also completed in the same university.

The newly-minted Executive Director is the PPP Center’s 5th Executive Director after Executive Order No. 8 renamed the former BOT Center into the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines. Former PPP Center Executive Directors include Philamer C. Torio, Cosette V. Canilao, Andre C. Palacios, and Ferdinand A. Pecson.