‘Yolanda’ rehab projects eyed for PPP framework

The government agency tasked with overseeing the Aquino administration’s public private partnership (PPP) program said it was open to structuring projects to aid in “post-Yolanda” rehabilitation efforts if asked to participate, a top official said.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said the agency had already successfully awarded projects for classroom buildings, which could also serve as a model for other aspects of the rebuilding program, now headed by so-called rehabilitation czar, Panfilo Lacson.

“We have not received any request from the ones in charge of the rehabilitation,” Canilao said. “We are ready to assist the ones in charge in case they tap us in helping procure the necessary infrastructure in the Yolanda-stricken regions.”

The Yolanda, the strongest in history to make landfall, ravaged several parts of Visayas in November, killing thousands of people and causing massive damage to infrastructure.

The National Economic and Development Authority last week said reconstruction and recovery efforts would cost about P361 billion over the next three years. The bulk of this amount would cover shelter and resettlement.

Other key items were public infrastructure, education and health services.

“We already have contracts for school buildings and contracts like these can also be applied to housing,” Canilao said.

She was referring to both phases of PPP projects of the Department of Education calling for the construction of classroom buildings. Two of these projects were awarded to Megawide Construction Corp.

The PPP Center remains upbeat on the infrastructure program, announcing last week that it was expecting to have 15 PPP contracts awarded and 10 operations and maintenance deals “turned over” to the private sector.