The World Bank pinpointed 15 infrastructure projects worth P495.84 billion under the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) scheme that it said are essential for the country to realize the Master Plan for Association of Southeast Asian Nations Connectivity (MPAC).
World Bank’s Singapore Infrastructure Hub identified certain airport, port, road, and rail projects that will directly link the Philippines to its ASEAN neighbors and to the rest of the world. They will also reduce transportation costs in all segments, paving the way for the exchange of more goods and services.
On the aviation side, these projects include the operation, maintenance, and redevelopment of the Puerto Princesa (P5.81 billion), Iloilo (P30.4 billion), Davao (P40.57 billion), Bacolod (P20.26 billion), New Bohol (P2.34 billion), and Laguindingan (P14.62 billion) airports; upgrade of the San Fernando Airport (P8.1 billion); and rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
On the ports side, the World Bank noted that the modernization of Davao Sasa Port (P18.99 billion) is a crucial PPP project.
For road and rail, it listed the operation and maintenance of the following: LRT Line 2; P177.22-billion North-South Commuter Railway (South line); P15.77-billion North Luzon Expressway-East Expressway; P7.64-billion Central Luzon Link Expressway-Phase II; P2.34-billion improvement and operation and maintenance of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway; and P151.78-billion Plaridel Bypass Toll Road.
During the first ASEAN PPP Networking Forum hosted by the Philippine government in Manila last December, the Philippine PPP Program was mentioned as one of the most mature PPP programs in the region that has established several policy and process improvements and developed a robust pipeline of projects.
ASEAN countries that are just starting their PPP programs, like Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, also expressed their intention to engage with the PPP Center of the Philippines to learn more about the country’s experience.
Based on the Infrascope 2011 Study of the Economist Intelligence Unit that was commissioned by the Asian Development Bank, the Philippines is ranked highest in PPP readiness in the ASEAN region given its advanced legal and administrative structure.
To date, eight PPP projects amounting to P127 billion have been awarded and signed off by the government and a pipeline of over 50 PPP projects has been built. At least 12 projects are now in the procurement stage and nine more are expected to be rolled out within the year.
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