Gov’t reviewing 20 unsolicited proposals

The state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) on Wednesday said it had been “holistically” and “rigorously” reviewing unsolicited proposals from the private sector to build mostly infrastructure projects, which numbered 20 to date.

“Neda always ensures that these unsolicited proposals in our pipeline are carefully selected and thoroughly reviewed. Selected are those that fit into the goals and strategies of the government, as in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. Importantly, they should follow the build-operate-transfer, or BOT law, among others,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda chief Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

“Neda looks into the technical, financial, economic, social and environmental aspects of the projects submitted for appraisal. These include a review of the proponent’s financial model to check the rates of return and if they are consistent with proposed legal obligations under the draft concession agreement,” Pernia added.

He said the review would entail a round of negotiations between the government and the private sector proponent to ensure that once awarded, the project would be implemented without undue legal and political risks to succeeding administrations.

So far, the San Miguel Corp.-led Bulacan international airport project is the most advanced in implementation as it was already approved by the Neda Board chaired by the President last year and its concession agreement signed this month.

Pernia said Neda’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee would next tackle two unsolicited airport projects: Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Consortium’s proposal to operate and upgrade Naia and the Aboitiz Group’s unsolicited proposal for the New Panglao Bohol International Airport.

The 17 other unsolicited proposals pending various levels of compliance include the Davao People Mover; C5 Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 10; Fort Bonifacio-Makati sky train; 50-year integrated development plan for Mactan-Cebu International Airport; IT project for LGU City of Naga-Unlad Bayan Local Government Information System in Cebu; operate-add-transfer for Laguindingan Airport and Davao international airport; operation and maintenance and facility upgrade of Kalibo International Airport; Light Rail Transit (LRT) 6 Cavite Line A; MRT 11; Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway; Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Extension; Cebu monorail transit system; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Corporate Center; North Luzon Express Terminal; Bureau of Immigration tourist-visa section online system; and Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense and Expressway Project of Manila Bay.

“We view these unsolicited proposals as an indication of private sector confidence in the Philippine economy. Neda is doing its best to efficiently and speedily process these, allowing the private sector to innovate, while keeping in mind the public’s interest over the medium and long term,” according to Pernia. —BEN O. DE VERA