Gov’t Invites Japanese Companies to Invest in PPP Projects

The Philippine government has encouraged Japanese businessmen to invest in the country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects during the Philippine Economic Briefing held in Tokyo this week.

PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao disclosed during the economic briefing that there are 16 PPP projects that can be rolled out by 2015.

“There are 16 projects that we are planning to roll out by next year”, she said.

One of these sixteen (16) projects is the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s New Centennial Water Supply Project that is worth PhP 18.72 Billion or USD 416 million which is now under procurement.

“The New Centennial Water Supply Project will ensure water security for the residents of Metro Manila”, Canilao said.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is currently inviting interested companies to apply for pre-qualification and bid for the project. The deadline for submission is not later than 12:00 noon, Philippine Standard Time, on November 17, 2014.

Executive Director Canilao also promoted a number of airport PPP projects specifically the operation and maintenance of the Bohol, Laguindingan, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod and Iloilo airports.

“These airport projects have an estimated cost of around USD 2,549.33 million in total and they are also included in our list of possible investment opportunities”, she said.

She also mentioned the San Fernando airport project which involves construction of an airport terminal with a mall complex in Barangay Poro, San Fernando City in La Union. The project has an indicative cost of USD 180 million.

The construction and modernization of the Davao Sasa port is also one of the PPP projects that was showcased in the forum with an estimated cost of US$388 million.

“This project will ultimately benefit the import and export industry of the country, specifically the island of Mindanao through transforming its facilities into a modern, international-standard container port”, Canilao said.

Other PPP projects that were presented in Tokyo are the Regional Prison Facilities project with an estimated cost of USD 1,115.11 million; USD 428.89-million Motor Vehicle Inspection System; USD 3,702.89 million North-South Railway Project- South Line; Mass Transit System Loop worth USD 3,000.0 million; Manila Bay-Pasig River – Laguna Lake Ferry System and the LRT line 1 Dasmarinas extension which will extend the LRT Line 1 by approximately 15 kilometers.

Canilao also noted that the government is pursuing the Batangas-Manila (BatMan) Natural Gas Pipeline project. The BatMan project involves a construction of an approximately 110-km natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline facilities from the province of Batangas to transport and supply natural gas to Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Metro Manila.

The government assured the Japanese companies that significant reforms in the implementation of the country’s PPP program have already been put in place. And the Philippines has been consistent in rolling out PPP projects through transparent, credible and accountable processes.

Source: PCOO, www.ppp.gov.ph