The Iloilo Provincial Government is eyeing to implement five “big projects” through the Public Private Partnership scheme.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. proposed to the PPP Center the creation of a government center, putting up a demonstration farm, construction of an arena, expansion of district hospitals, and the solid waste management project.
The goverment center is intended mainly to house national government agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment, and Natural Resources and Office of Civil Defense. It is planned to be built in the town of Sta. Barbara.
The arena, on the other hand, is proposed to be constructed at the provincial government-run Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district, Iloilo City.
The provincial government is also keen on putting up a demonstration farm in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town.
There’s also a need to improve and expand the 12 district hospitals and a provincial hospital cater to more patients, said Defensor.
The governor is also seeking the help of the private sector for the province’s solid waste management project.
“It’s the only way to afford it because the (waste-to-energy) technology is still not with us,” said Defensor.
These five proposed projects, according to the governor, require huge funds.
Last week, the provincial government, represented by Defensor, signed a memorandum of understanding with the PPP Center under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“We have a PPP ordinance that was passed. Now, we want to implement and make use of it and we are asking the help of the PPP Center to guide us,” said Defensor.
The joint venture ordinance of the province governs the partnership between the public and the private sector in pursuing certain projects.
What is PPP?
“PPP can be broadly defined as a contractual agreement between the Government and a private firm targeted towards financing, designing, implementing and operating infrastructure facilities and services that were traditionally provided by the public sector,” the PPP Center said.
“It embodies optimal risk allocation between the parties – minimizing cost while realizing project developmental objectives. Thus, the project is to be structured in such a way that the private sector gets a reasonable rate of return on its investment,” it added.IMT
