PRA to issue PPP guidelines

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) is set to issue new guidelines to supervise private sector players on how to participate in the agency's land reclamation and development projects through public private partnership, its chairman Alberto Agra said.

"We will soon adopt out PPP guidelines, which will set forth out PPP modalities and corresponding procedures," Agra said.

The PRA said it is considering different modes of PPP, such as joint ventures, lease, usufruct, corporations, and operations and management arrangement.

Consistent with government policy, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the PRA is now welcoming unsolicited proposals to give opportunity to more private sector stakeholders to partner with the agency.

"This will allow private sector proponents to bring their own ideas and partner with the government to build economically and environmentally sustainable property development," Dominguez said.

Agra said the PRA is now evaluating four unsolicited proposals, including two long-term lease arrangements in Naic, Cavite and Panglao, Bohol, and the maintenance of the Manila-Cavite toll expressway.

To expedite the implementation of such projects, the PRA said it intends to combine PPPs with public-public collaborations.

According to Agra, the PRA has so far identified 96 reclamation projects at various stages of evaluation, and 487 unauthorized projects for which the government is seeking reimbursement or forfeiture of land.