JICA shows interest in PPP program

MANILA, Philippines - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expressed interest in participating in the public-private partnership (PPP) program for infrastructure.

Yoshida Toru, representative and chief of JICA’s economic growth section, said the agency is conducting peripheral studies on at least three PPP projects to determine the extent of the agency’s participation.

Toru said the agency is looking at financing at least three projects. These are the 5.2-kilometer Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway, the P8-billion new Bohol airport project and another road project.

“We’re already conducted feasibility studies for the three projects,” Toru said.

He said the agency is planning to participate in financing the projects and complete the feasibility studies by June.

JICA said the idea is to provide long-term concessional loans for three infrastructure projects.

“We’re looking at very concessional loans. It could be a 25-year loan with a concessional rate of 1.4 percent,” JICA said.

The government’s PPP Center earlier announced that the Aquino administration plans to accelerate the implementation of its PPP program by bidding out eight to 16 projects this year.

The list of 16 projects includes the P900-million vaccine self-sufficiency program of the Department of Health; the P25-billion Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System new water supply project; a P20.18-billion North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road; a P10.15-billion Mactan Terminal 2 airport development; and the P8-billion Bohol airport project.

Other projects include the P20-billion Balara water hub; P19.69-billion CALA (Cavite and Laguna Side) Expressway; P11.3-billion Light Rail Transit 2 East Extension and the first phase of a P10.4-billion PPP for school infrastructure project.

The Aquino administration said PPP projects are taking longer to bid out because feasibility studies are taking longer than expected.