Key Bhutan officials visit PH

MANILA, Philippines–Key Bhutan government officials visited the Philippines recently to obtain first-hand information about the country’s experience in implementing projects under the public-private partnership framework.

The Royal Government of Bhutan group was composed of Economic Affairs Secretary Sonam Tshering, Information Secretary Kinley Dorji, Works and Human Settlements Secretary Sonam Tenzin, Finance Secretary Lam Dorji, Economic Affairs Joint Secretary Phuntsho Wangdi, National Land Commission Secretary Pema Chewang, Gross National Happiness Commission Deputy Chief Research Officer Phuntsho Wangyel, Economic Affairs chief planning officer Sonam Tashi and Economic Affairs Planning Officer Sonam Lhendup.

“The purpose of our visit is to hear and learn from the experience of the Philippines with regard to undertaking infrastructure projects under the PPP model. For most of us, we are hearing about PPP schools for the first time,” said Tshering, the delegation head.

The Bhutan officials visited one of Megawide Construction Corp.’s infrastructure projects during their three-day stay in the country.

Megawide, together with faculty and students of the Cabilang Baybay Elementary School in Carmona, Cavite, welcomed the 9-member delegation, with representatives also from the PPP Center and the Department of Education (DepEd) taking part in the presentation of the PPP School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) to the Bhutan officials.

“We know that PPP projects involve roads and other such structures. So we’d be glad to hear about how Megawide and the DOE entered into this partnership [using a] successful model,” Tshering added.

After DepEd’s representative—Annabelle Pangan, OIC of the Physical Facilities and Schools Engineering Division (PFSED)—gave an extensive presentation of the agency’s role in the PSIP team-up including facts and figures on the different phases of the venture, Megawide marketing manager Genna Mijares and director for Region 4-A John Harold Manuel provided the delegates a closer look at the project, which involved the construction of about 10,000 classrooms in 2,800 job sites.