PPPs emerging local sectors cited

There are emerging sectors in local public-private partnerships as more and more local government units are engaging in PPP to implement their priority projects.

PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar Ricote identified these emerging sectors in local PPPs as transportation such as port, road, bus rapid transport and terminal; information technology system; tourism; and energy.

"A lot of LGUs are coming to us for help on PPPs," he said during the 6th Livable Cities Lab organized by Livable Cities Philippines.

Benefits

"Benefits (of PPPs), aside from financing, (and) bringing private sector finance, efficiency (through) automation, technology, etc. a lot of things they can put together very quickly without the constraints of procurements…," he added.

Ricote said the Center's other local PPP projects include those in water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, vertical infrastructure/government property development, and agriculture/food security.

"In our continuing PPP narrative, there are 181 PPP projects, in both national and local level, that are under implementation since the enactment of the BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) law," he said.

Ricote said the 181 PPP projects under implementation cost P2.66 trillion while there are 105 projects in the pipeline worth P2.52 trillion. Total cost does not include projects undergoing studies and with costs that are yet to be finalized.

He said that as one of the infrastructure delivery mechanisms in the country significantly contributing to its economic growth and resiliency, the PPP is a priority agenda of the administration.