P2.6 trillion PPP projects currently in pipeline

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has 176 projects amounting to P2.60 trillion in the pipeline for implementation through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Data from the PPP Center showed that while the number of PPP projects in the pipeline as of March 16 was unchanged from its Feb. 10 report, the total cost increased from P2.47 trillion.

The PPP Center attributed the change in the total amount to the addition and removal of projects in the pipeline.

It said eight projects were added to the pipeline, of which six are national projects and two are local projects.

Those added to the PPP pipeline include the P163.94-billion Project KILO proposed by ENDEC Development Corp. to address overcrowding and improve facilities in the country’s prison system; the P1.56-billion Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Emergency Response Center, proposed by 22 Prime Construction; Realty Development Inc.; the Localized Online Visitor Ecosystem Metro Manila: Phase 2 of the Philippine Tourism Digitalization Project proposed by Positive Exposure Productions Inc.; the operations and maintenance of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project; the PPP for School Infrastructure Project Connect; construction of septage treatment plant in Sagay City, Negros Occidental; a tariff and utility blueprint for water operations model for the Iligan City Waterworks System and the development of water supply system for the municipality of Mangatarem in Pangasinan.

The PPP Center said six projects consisting of two national projects and four local projects were taken out of the PPP pipeline.

Those delisted include the P29.82-billion Design, Build, Finance and Operate the Air Navigation Services (Air Traffic Service and Air Navigation Service) of the Philippines project,  the P9.6-billion Renewstable Green Hydrogen Power Plant in Marinduque, the GMA Cavite Digitalized Traffic Enforcement project, Municipality of Cainta Digitalized Traffic Enforcement project, Cauayan City Digitalized Traffic Enforcement project  and the Municipality of Pagsanjan Digitalized Traffic Enforcement project.

Also removed from the pipeline were the P1.87-billion Cavite Bus Rapid Transit System and the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center Project.

The PPP Center said these projects were delisted as these have been awarded and are now reflected in the database for projects under implementation.

Of the total projects in the PPP pipeline, 116 are national projects worth P2.39 trillion.

Meanwhile, there are 60 local projects valued at P212.64 billion in the pipeline.

The government is pushing for PPPs to accelerate infrastructure development.

By improving the country’s infrastructure through PPPs, the government wants to attract investments that will create jobs and support economic growth.