Filipinos look to private sector to provide jobs, cheaper goods

More than half of Filipinos see the private sector as a provider of more livelihood opportunities and affordable goods, both crucial to enabling the country’s economic growth, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

The survey, which was conducted on Sept. 6 to 13, asked 1,200 respondents about specific ways they thought both the private sector and the government could collaborate for economic growth and development.

It found that 52 percent of Filipinos believed that the private sector could help expand livelihood opportunities.

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At the same time, 51 percent said it could likewise support by making more affordable and accessible goods.

“Private enterprises have the proven ability to adapt swiftly to market needs to ensure the continuous provision of goods and services that benefit Filipino consumers and create millions of gainful employment,” said Dindo Manhit, founder and CEO of the Stratbase Group, which commissioned the survey.

“By leveraging its resources and expertise, the private sector can catalyze growth across multiple sectors, contributing significantly to national development,” Manhit added.

Of the respondents, 48 percent also said the private sector could help create higher quality jobs, while 36 percent said these companies could develop the skills of the Filipino workforce.

Others answered improving the quality of digital services (33 percent) and developing public infrastructure (26 percent).

Long list

Earlier this week, the Public-Private Partnership Center said a total of 173 public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth a combined P3.174 trillion were now in the pipeline.

This comes after the addition of 23 new projects, 10 of which were national while 13 were local.

Worth a total of P29.82 billion, the Design Build Finance Operate the Air Navigation Services of the Philippines is the largest among the new projects.

Others are the Food and Drug License and Clearance System (P16 million), the 17-megawatt (MW) Upper Sampaloc and 8-MW Lower Sampaloc hydroelectric power projects (P7.21 billion combined) and Santiago City Hemodialysis Center (P36 million).