THE pipeline of public-private partnership (PPP) projects is now at 169, with a total value of P3.18 trillion, the PPP Center said.
These include 113 national PPP projects and 56 local ones, according to the PPP Center website.
Of the national PPP projects, 75 are solicited and 38 unsolicited. Of the local PPP projects, 16 were solicited and 40 unsolicited.
The PPP Center has said that five PPP projects valued at around P28 billion will be awarded this year and by early 2025.
These include the New Bohol International Airport and the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which will be awarded by the end of this year, the PPP Center said in an e-mail reply to queries.
Also to be awarded next year are the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Cancer Center, the Boracay Bridge project, the Bislig City Bulk Water Supply project, the Bislig City Septage project, and a dialysis center at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
Projects due for submission to approving bodies by the end of this year include the Boracay Bridge project, the San Ramon Newport project, the UP-PGH Diliman project, and the Iloilo International Airport Project.
The operations and maintenance contract of the Metro Manila Subway and North South Commuter Railway, and rehabilitation, operations and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 are also scheduled for awarding in 2025.
PPP projects for submission to approving bodies by next year are the Cagayan Valley Medical Center – Hemodialysis Center, the Kalibo International Airport project, and the Puerto Prinsesa International Airport project.
The government enters into PPPs to mobilize private funds to build needed infrastructure.
Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan cited the importance of PPPs in building climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Limited fiscal space, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates developing our governance framework for public-private partnerships to finance climate-resilient infrastructure,” Mr. Balisacan told a forum on Tuesday.
The pipeline for PPP projects also includes major water supply, flood control, and irrigation infrastructure projects, Mr. Balisacan said. This is expected to help meet the economy’s growing needs while increasing resilience against climate change.
During the forum, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized the need to increase investment in disaster risk reduction and develop financing mechanisms to help address disaster risks.
“Sustained and predictable data and financing would help address disaster risks better,” he said in his speech.
“This entails ensuring that developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries, landlocked countries, and small island developing states, are provided greater access to these resources to advance their policies and build disaster resilience.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
