Cebu wants share of PPP projects

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu private sector led by the Cebu Business Club (CBC) is calling on President Benigno Aquino to throw part of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects to Visayas, while over 90 percent of which are only implemented in the Luzon area.

“We’ve been so excited for the PPP projects, until now Cebu haven’t got its share. Majority of these projects are implemented in Luzon,” said CBC president Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph.

Joseph said Cebu, with its high potential to rake additional revenue in tourism, and other industry investments, should be given equal attention by the government, especially in fixing the infrastructure.             

“PPP is severely delayed, we really need those,” Joseph said in an interview.

He said even for the lined-up PPP (infrastructure) projects for next year, Cebu is not (yet) part of it.

Among other infrastructure needs for Cebu, such as improving the old Mactan Bridge, fixing the circumferencial roads, he said Cebu needs public transport system immediately.

However, the bid to transfer the Mactan International Airport is a far-fetched plan, as it must be studied carefully by experts.

Joseph said there are a lot of private sector investors who are willing to partner with the government in PPP program, however, there is none yet being planned for Cebu.

In a separate interview earlier with CCCI president Samuel Chioson, he said that although there are already a few CCCI member companies which have pending plans to pursue partnership with the government, the chamber is going to intensify this support, urging each member companies support with the government’s thrust.

As an organization, Chioson mentioned that CCCI already has several PPPI projects, such as the Adopt-a-Police-Station, and Adopt-A-School programs and other social responsibility events initiated by the chamber.

He also mentioned the recent Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the chamber and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to create a 500-hectare to 1,000 hectare “Chamber Forest.”

However, for individual member companies, Chioson said CCCI will provide a conducive environment that will encourage companies to pursue partnership with the government.

“Everyone in the business community is looking at wide range of ventures available in partnership with the government,’ said Chioson.

In May this year, the Cebu Business Club (CBC) in partnership with Research, Education and Institutional Development (REID) launched its first PPP initiative in Cebu called “Partnership for Better Infrastructure,” or PBI.

The PBI will broaden participation in the allocation and implementation of infrastructure investments to support economic development and poverty reduction.

 REID is a policy research advocacy group based in Pasig City. It selected Cebu as one of the six provinces where it will implement the PBI.

The REID Foundation, through a Memorandum of Agreement, will work in partnership with the CBC to advocate for better infrastructure in Cebu.

 REID Foundation will provide technical assistance through a series of workshops on the national and regional economy, national budget, and procurement, among others. These activities are supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through The Asia Foundation (TAF).

Convinced of Cebu’s need for more and better infrastructure, several business chambers and civil society organizations partnered with CBC to support the PBI.

The project aims to participate and engage the government to ensure that recommended list of priority infrastructure projects for Cebu are considered and included in the National Government Budget, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and implemented with greater transparency, accountability and responsibility.

PBI will also develop strategies to assist the DPWH, Department of Tourism, DOTC and other government agencies involved in infrastructure development in asset preservation and in the preparation, budgeting, procurement, and monitoring the implementation of approved and funded infrastructure projects for Cebu.

Significantly, the PBI will also strongly advocate with the government to consult, utilize, consider and respect the expertise of other groups and individuals in the planning, development and implementation of infrastructure projects. (FREEMAN)