Gov’t to roll out 18 PPP projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration is set to roll out 18 major infrastructure projects worth P602.2 billion under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program before June next year.

PPP Center executive secretary Cosette Canilao said during the Quarterly Roundtable of The Wallace Business Forum that the 18 projects are part of the inventory of 47 PPP projects already in the pipeline.

“This is product of about two years of streamlining processes of establishing interaction between various government agencies including capacities not only in the public sector but increasing the appreciation of the private sector on PPP projects,” Canilao said.

Two of the biggest projects to be rolled out include the North-South commuter rail worth P265.3 billion to be launched in November and the proposed subway system Mass Transit loop worth P132 billion to be launched in December.

Airport operation and maintenance PPP projects to be launched next month include the Davao Airport worth P39.7 billion, Iloilo Airport worth P29.7 billion, Bacolod Airport P19.8 billion, Laguindingan Airport worth P14.3 billion, Puerto Princesa airport worth P5.01 billion, and the new Bohol (Panglao) Airport worth P2.28 billion

Other projects to be launched include the Regional Prison Facilities through PPP worth P39.4 billion, the Motor Vehicle Inspection System worth P18.9 billion and the Tanauan City public market, P381.2 million.

The government has yet to determine the cost of several projects including the San Fernando Airport, the Batangas-Manila natural gas pipeline, the Manila Bay-Pasig Ferry-Laguna lake ferry, and the proposed extension of the Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT1) all the way to Dasmarinas in Cavite instead of only Bacoor City under the P65 billion LRT1 Cavite extension project.

After a slow start in 2010, Canilao said the roll out is in full swing after the award of seven PPP projects worth close to P68 billion including the Daang Hari – South Luzon expressway link road (P2 billion), PPP for School Infrastructure Project phase 1 (P8.86 billion), the PSIP-2 (P16.28 billion), the modernization project for the Philippine Orthopedic Center (P5.98 billion), the Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway (P15.52 billion), the automated fare collection system project (P1.72 billion), and the Mactan – Cebu international airport expansion project (P17.5 billion).

“This is also a product of further refining the legal and regulatory framework,” she said.

According to Canilao, the government is also set to award the concession contracts for the P65 billion LRT1 Cavite extension project as well as the P35.4 billion Cavite-Laguna expressway project under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The awarding of both projects are being contested at the Supreme Court as well as the Office of the President.

She added that there are four projects under procurement including the P123 billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Project, the P4 billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) – South terminal, the P2.5 billion ITS-Southwest terminal, and the P24.4 billion Bulacan Bulk Water supply project.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said it is a high priority to ensure that the government conduct a fair, open competition for the projects and abide by the Aquino administration’s code of good governance.

“It was very clear from the President’s State of the Nation Address that we have been making great strides in generating investments and building infrastructure to benefit the country. Now that we’ve entered the last third of the President’s term, it’s timely that we assess what can be realistically done over the next two years,” he said.