PPP Center, ULAP ink MOA with LGUs on stronger collaboration

MANILA, Philippines — The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has teamed up with the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP) to strengthen work with local government units (LGUs) in the promotion of financially viable infrastructure PPP projects.

In a statement yesterday, the PPP Center said the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the agency’s executive director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez and ULAP national president and Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua, last Dec.19.

Under the MOA, the PPP Center and ULAP have agreed to work together to promote the PPP program to encourage local economic development.

The MOA will provide a framework for the cooperation and coordination in developing a robust pipeline of PPP projects for ULAP’s members.

ULAP is the umbrella organization of all leagues of LGUs and locally elected government officials in the country.

The PPP Center said it would continue to help LGUs develop and implement bankable projects in the regions.

In addition, it will continue to provide assistance to ULAP’s constituent members in building their capacity to develop and implement PPP projects.

The signing of the MOA between the PPP Center and ULAP follows the enactment of the PPP Code, which seeks to promote a more competitive and enabling environment for PPPs.

The law unifies the fragmented legal framework for PPPs at the national and local levels.

Under the PPP Code, the autonomy of LGUs is recognized by retaining the approval of local PPP projects to local Sanggunians.

In cases when a local PPP project will affect a national or sectoral development plan or national project, the law provides that the national government, through the Regional Development Council, will have to give its endorsement.

With the approval of the PPP Code, the PPP Center and ULAP expect more high-impact PPP projects to be implemented in the regions.