PPP Center, DICT sign MOA to cooperate on ICT projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has forged a partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to work together in the development and implementation of PPP projects in ICT.

In a statement yesterday, the PPP Center said it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DICT last week aimed at fast-tracking ICT infrastructure development and project implementation.

Under the MOA, the agencies will collaborate in terms of project assistance, capacity building, and formulation of PPP policies and guidelines for ICT.

“Catalyzing digital acceleration and bridging the digital divide require tremendous collective effort. But we need not take the digital transformation journey alone. Joining forces, we will deploy services that will create more opportunities for Filipinos, to ensure that no one gets left behind,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said.

For her part, PPP Center executive director Cynthia Hernandez is looking forward to the impact of the collaboration with DICT.

She said the agency is hopeful “DICT will also extend their assistance to implementing agencies that are developing IT projects, and to help them evaluate unsolicited proposals.”

At present, the PPP Center is providing support to the DICT in reviewing PPP project concept notes and proposals.

Those being reviewed include the fiber-enabled free public internet access project; design, build and operate of an underground fiber optic conduit network at the Philippine National Railways’ 600-km right of way from San Fernando, La Union to Sorsogon; regional ring to provide government network access in all government agencies and public places in Marinduque; and the regional ring to provide government network access in all government agencies and public places in Ilocos Norte.

The PPP Center is the agency that coordinates and monitors all PPP projects in the country.

As the central agency for PPPs, the PPP Center also provides technical assistance to national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, and local government units in developing and implementing critical infrastructure and other development projects.