PPP Center expands project pipeline

The government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) program added 14 new projects this year, expanding the projects in the pipeline but giving no indication when these will be completed.

The PPP Center said the new projects were comprised of both solicited and unsolici­ted projects.

Among the solicited projects were the Mariveles Mental Wellness Center, Philippine Travel Center Complex, Metro Cebu Expressway, Bicol Medical Center-Medical Arts Building and upgrading of health services, and the National Economic and Development Authority sa Makati Property Redevelopment.

The unsolicited projects were operations and maintenance (O&M) of Francisco B. Reyes Airport and New Busuanga Airport, New Metro Manila Food and Transport Hub, Tuguegarao City Septage Management, Iloilo Commercial Port Complex and Dumangas Port.

The PPP Center also included the Davao Sasa Port Modernization and Development, which was among those carried over from the Aquino administration, and the O&M of General Santos Port.

“These additional projects are currently in various stages of development, evaluation and approval,” the PPP Center said.

There were no further details on when the projects will be completed.

The PPP Program faced an overhaul during the Duterte administration, which favored overseas loans for much of its big-ticket infrastructure pro­jects.

Nevertheless, the PPP Center said it remained “bullish” and supportive of the “Build, Build, Build” program—the present administration’s infrastructure slogan.

The PPP Center said 176 projects were under implementation with a combined project value of P1.3 trillion. INQ