Gov’t may exceed PPP rollout goal this year

The Aquino administration may surpass its target of bidding out eight public-private partnership (PPP) projects this year, according to a status update by the government’s PPP Center.

Data from the agency show that two projects are under ongoing bidder due diligence, two projects having their invitation to prequalify to bid for publication, while three projects are up for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board. Another five projects are set for roll-out within a year.

As of July 17, there were 21 projects worth an estimated P4.965 billion in the pipeline of PPP deals.

The only awarded project so far is the Daang-Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Road while the School Infrastructure Project Phase 1 and the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension, Operation and Maintenance are undergoing bidder due diligence.

The invitation to prequalify to bid for the NAIA Expressway was published last Friday while the invitation for North Luzon Expressway-SLEx connector is up for publication.

Those that were approved by the NEDA board are the modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, the Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Project Phase 2 and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

The projects scheduled for roll-out within the third or fourth quarter of the year include the Automatic Fare Collection System for Metro Manila’s rail system; the new Bohol-Panglao airport; the Mactan Cebu International Airport passenger terminal building; the operation and maintenance of turbines 4 and 5 of the Angat hydroelectric power plant; and the operation and maintenance of the Puerto Princesa airport.

Also being finalized are the project structures for the operation and maintenance of the Laguindingan airport; the Grains Central Project; the establishment of a food “cold chain” system; and the operation and maintenance of LRT Line 2.

Those with ongoing business case studies include the Balara Waterhub; an Integrated Transport System project; the New Centennial Water Supply; and logistics support for an Agri-fishery Products Supply Chain.