Canada Commends Philippines for Successful Public-Private Partnership Initiatives

(PNA) — Canada has praised the Philippines for establishing an effective public-private partnership (PPP) center and for rolling out PPP projects, making it a model for other economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific region.

“I do congratulate the government of the Philippines. I think President Aquino’s government has done a model PPP center under the leadership of (PPP Center Executive Director) Cosette (Canilao) and the results are obviously there in terms of projects that have left, projects under review, and projects in the pipeline,” Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder said in a media briefing on Thursday.

“And I’m beginning to see how PPP centers evolve and develop around the region that obviously some of the experiences of the Philippines and the models that the Philippines has chosen to advance infrastructure are in fact being adopted by other economies in the region.”

Canada’s experience in PPPs spans 22 years, both at the national and provincial levels, said Reeder.

It has 221 completed PPPs with a total value of US$ 70 billion, and has been doing so well despite the challenges, he said, adding that Canada shares those experiences with the Philippines and other economies interested in Canada’s PPPs.

Reeder also mentioned that Canada’s prime minister has announced two weeks ago an additional US$ 5 billion in infrastructure projects, showing how Canada is very keen on the development of PPPs.

Canada is also supporting the development of PPP centers in the region, including in the Philippines, with the contribution of US$ 4.2 million to the PPP Center to strengthen its capacity to deliver on the government’s PPP agenda, he said.

Aside from the Philippines, Canada is also active in other ASEAN countries, having contributed to the ASEAN center for excellence in infrastructure, which will help facilitate PPP projects in the ASEAN region with a US$ 4.5 million fund.

It has also made a US$ 4.5 million contribution to Indonesia, and will release another USD 14 million to help the ASEAN country in its PPP infrastructure, Reeder said.

“It is important to mention (this) because we want to share our skills to allow these countries like the Philippines and others to build up capacities to project the infrastructure that you need for the country as it grows and develop and becomes more prosperous,” he said.

Reeder noted that Canada is very pleased to work with the Philippines throughout the APEC year in the APEC advisory panel, which shares best practices and experiences within APEC economies.

Reeder and Canilao co-chair the APEC PPP Experts’ Advisory Panel. (PNA) LGI/PND/RSM