The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) Committee of Republic Act No. 11966 or the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code of the Philippines held an online information and consultation session with the general public on January 23, 2024. The event was conducted online via Zoom and was broadcasted live on the PPP Center’s Facebook and YouTube channel.

PPP Center Assistant Secretary Jeffrey I. Manalo, and Atty. Phebean Belle A. Ramos-Lacuna, Director of the Center’s Policy Formulation, Project Evaluation, and Monitoring Service, discussed major reforms introduced in the PPP Code, such as unifying fragmented legal frameworks on PPPs, streamlining the evaluation and approval process of national and local PPP projects, introducing frameworks and protocols in project monitoring, and strengthening enabling institutions for PPPs. 

The online consultation session attracted a diverse audience, including national government agencies and regional line agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities, local government units, private sector organizations, and members of the general public.

The public consultation also aimed to highlight public interest measures which were included in the law such as mandatory disclosure of tender documents and PPP contracts, preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials, and locally produced goods, as well as administrative, civil, and penal sanctions for violating provisions of the Code.

“Your participation today is really a testament to the willingness of all relevant stakeholders to be part of this milestone legislation in the Philippine PPP Program. The success of the PPP Code, which was passed last year, lies in the well-crafted IRR,” Director Feroisa Francisca T. Concordia of the Center’s Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service concluded.

The PPP Code of the Philippines, signed into law on December 5, 2023, and effective since December 23, 2023, mandates the IRR Committee to promulgate the IRR within 90 calendar days from the effectivity thereof, or by March 23, 2024.