Transport chief Dizon seeks more private funds

Secretary Vivencio Dizon Noy Morcoso / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The new transport chief raised the need to engage private sector partners in developing the country’s key transportation projects, including the Edsa Busway and Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon, in a statement on Monday, said that allowing private sector players to operate and maintain these facilities would make public transportation more efficient.

“This [privatization of transport projects] is critical because I think that is the way to go,” he said.

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Dizon commended outgoing secretary Jaime Bautista for pushing for private-public partnership (PPP) projects to accelerate the upgrade in the country’s primary infrastructure.

“The biggest contribution of [Bautista] in such a short span of time is really the massive privatization effort beginning obviously with the Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) privatization,” the new transport chief said.

The government awarded the P170.6-billion Naia rehabilitation project to a consortium led by San Miguel Corp. in February last year.

The group, which is now tasked with expanding the airport’s passenger capacity and improving the overall facilities, has been managing the country’s primary gateway since September.

Dizon also cited Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan International Airport projects, both of which were secured by the Aboitiz Group. INQ