Phl lines up $20-B projects 50 infra plans to be presented to European investors

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is set to showcase over 50 major infrastructure projects under the public private partnership (PPP) scheme worth $20 billion during the ongoing four-nation official tour of President Aquino in Europe.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said the PPP projects would be presented to European investors during the visit of President Aquino to Spain, Belgium, France, and Germany from Sept. 13 to 20.

“This is a huge opportunity for the Philippines to pitch our PPP infra projects and let European investors know that we have built up a major deal flow which they can participate in. Our investment climate is ripe for investors to bring their business to the Philippines,” Canilao said.

She cited the investment grade given to the Philippines by major credit rating agencies led by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings.

“Our credit ratings are at an all-time high as evidenced by major international rating agencies’ successive upgrades. We made significant strides in the world competitive index. Clearly, now is the best time to invest in the Philippines,” she said.

According to her, one of the highlights during the official tour is the PPP Infrastructure Conference to be held in Brussels, Belgium on Sept. 16.

The roll out of PPP projects in the Philippines is in full swing after the award of eight PPP projects worth close to P133 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), the Mactan – Cebu international airport expansion project (P17.5 billion), and the Light Rail Transit line 1 Cavite extension project (P65 billion).

The award of the P35.4 billion Cavite – Laguna expressway project is now pending after the disqualified bidder filed an appeal before the Office of the President.

The PPP Center earlier said the Aquino administration is set to roll out 18 PPP projects worth P407 billion before June next year as part of the inventory of over 50 projects already in the pipeline.

The government has so far rolled out the biggest PPP project so far with the P123 billion Laguna Lakeshore expressway dike project; the P24.4 billion Bulacan Bulk Water supply project; the P4 billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) – South terminal; the P2.5 billion ITS-Southwest terminal; and the operation and maintenance of LRT-2.

Canilao said the big-ticket PPP projects to be featured in the Brussels PPP infrastructure projects conference include the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway dike project and the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply project.

She added that the conference would also feature transportation projects including airports, massive transport terminals, and rail lines.