PPP Center, PCC to strengthen review of PPP projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) have agreed to strengthen their partnership in reviewing PPP projects for anti-competition concerns. 

The two agencies have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) formalizing the coordination and cooperation framework in reviewing PPP projects falling under the mandatory notification and review requirements under the Philippine Competition Act, the PPP Center said in a statement issued over the weekend. 

The MOA was signed by chairman Arsenio Balisacan and commissioner Stella Luz Quimbo from PCC, and executive director Ferdinand Pecson and director Frances Yani Domingo from the PPP Center, at the PCC office in Quezon City. 

The agencies agreed to share resources and information for the enforcement of competition matters. 

These include the formulation of guidelines for the facilitation and review of PPP projects, as well as the conduct of consultative meetings and joint capacity building activities on competition concerns.

This is also meant to determine anti-competitive concerns in PPP projects early on so as not to delay the movement of projects in the project cycle. 

Pecson emphasized the importance of promoting competition in PPP projects. 

“Our aim is to ensure a level playing field for all interested PPP players,” he said. 

For his part, Arsenio Balisacan said this would streamline and enhance working relationship of the two agencies.  

 “What we aim to achieve in this MOA is to enhance the level of coordination and partnership between the two agencies such that we advance the process of developing the culture of competition in PPP projects,” he said.