Phl to host forum on Asean PPP guidelines

MANILA, Philippines - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is looking at harmonizing the guidelines or principles on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to further enhance the economic integration and global competitiveness of the region. 

The PPP Center of the Philippines said the proposed Asean Guidelines/Principles for PPP would be discussed during the first Asean PPP Networking Forum to be hosted by the Philippines next month. 

The proposed guidelines would harmonize policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks of Asean member countries with the view to further enhance the economic integration and global competitiveness of the region.  

The guidelines would also establish a network of PPP units or similar institutions that will be a venue for regular interaction of Asean member economies. 

The PPP Center said the networking forum scheduled on Dec. 16 and 17 would also provide a venue for sharing experiences on PPP and challenges, opportunities, and innovative PPP practices as well as insights from the private sector.  

The forum would bring together members of the Asean Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), national coordinators, PPP focal points and officials responsible for infrastructure projects from the 10 Asean member states.  

The forum is being organized by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to Asean led by Her Excellency Elizabeth Buensuceso, with support from ACCC, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Asean Economic Community (AEC) Division and the PPP Center of the Philippines. The Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) and Asean Regional Integration Support from the EU (EU ARISE) are sponsoring the event. 

Representatives from the private sector, financing institutions, and development partners are expected to attend the forum that would serve as an opportunity for Asean countries to pitch in their pipeline of projects and development support requirements.  

Earlier this month, President Aquino announced at the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC) dialogue during the recently-concluded 25th Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar that the Philippines would host the networking forum. 

Prior to the forum, the Philippines is set to conduct a roadshow for close to 50 projects worth $20 billion in Melbourne on Nov. 25 and Sydney on Nov. 27. The roadshow in Australia is the last for the year after successful investment roadshows in North America, Europe, Japan and Singapore. 

The government has so far rolled out the biggest PPP project with the P123 billion Laguna Lakeshore expressway dike project; the P24.4-billion Bulacan bulk water supply project; the P18.7-billion New Centennial Water Source; the P4-billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) – South terminal; the P2.5-billion ITS-Southwest terminal; and the operation and maintenance of LRT-2. 

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. 

These include 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).