October 28, 2011, PPP Center
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga recently urged leaders of local governments to take advantage of positive developments in the country’s infrastructure program which includes conduct of public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
Secretary Paderanga, director general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), said at the start of the Plan Caravan on October 25, 2011 in Pagadian City, “The government is exerting energies into the creation of 1.4 million jobs that will push our economic development agenda.”
The Plan Caravan highlighted the Philippine Development Plan 2011 to 2016 and the targets dealing with the improvement of peace and order.
In his message before local government executives of the Zamboanga Region attending the Plan Caravan and the expanded meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Paderanga cited the importance of good governance to achieve inclusive growth.
He noted the role of the PPP program which incorporates good governance and transparency in its processes to spur the country’s infrastructure development. “The PPP Center facilitates the infrastructure program and helps attract investors who are keen interest of doing business in the Philippines. LGUs can be faster and more efficient in the delivery of services through projects deemed viable with the cooperation of private sector,” Paderanga told the Region IX executives.
Presenting the framework of the PPP program, PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said, “The PPP Center offers its services to the local governments of Region IX to help them develop sound projects,” Canilao said. It has started on the intensive and multi-tiered series of training workshops for LGUs to inform them of the entire route of PPP project development and enable them to present well-studied and well-prepared proposals employing PPP strategies.
During the RDC meeting, Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy underscored the need to actively raise the quality of life in Region IX regardless of creed or circumstances. “It is our task to provide real practical solutions for the people of Region IX,” Uy said.
For his part, Pagadian Mayor Samuel S. Co said it is necessary to bring the national plans to the regions to harmonize these with the local development agenda. Reacting to the present peace problems in Zamboanga Sibugay, Mayor Co said that “It is high time to make the Zamboanga peninsula, one in dream to make it work for the people. Real peace and security is needed to realize this dream.”
