DoTC resignations won’t affect PPP, says exec

The recent resignation of Transportation Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus and his three undersecretaries won’t endanger the government’s public-private partnership program, according to Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Cristino Panlilio.

In an interview, Panlilio said the PPP program would not be derailed, even if many of the identified projects under the PPP scheme fell under the Department of Transportation and Communications’ portfolio.

“We still have the PPP Center and the (National Economic and Development Authority). Everything is in place. Their resignation will have no impact on the program, even the bidding for the [operations and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit 1 and Edsa Metro Rail Transit 3],” he said.

The operations and maintenance contracts for the LRT 1 and MRT 3 were the first projects identified for bidding under the PPP scheme. The deadline for submission of bids was set on July 11.

Panlilio also told reporters that the resignation of key Department of Transportation and Communications executives would not likely dampen investors’ interest in government projects to be auctioned off under the PPP program.

“What’s more difficult now is the completion of the feasibility studies, which investors need to help them make decisions. Once we get the feasibility studies out, the bidding procedures will be a lot simpler. We’re constantly following up on their completion,” Panlilio explained.

After the LRT 1 and MRT 3 operations and maintenance contracts, the government will auction off the P1.6-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway link road project.

The project involves the construction of a 3.68-kilometer, four-lane paved toll road, plus two overpasses, four local roads, an undercrossing, a rotunda and drainage structures.

Next in line is the P10.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway Phase 2 and the P21-billion North Luzon Expressway-Slex connector road.