PB allows Baricuatro to engage with PPP Center

Local

CEBU Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has been given authority by the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines.

The proposed MOA aims to establish cooperation between both parties in identifying, developing, approving, implementing, and monitoring public-private projects in Cebu.

During the regular session on Monday, Sept. 7, of the Provincial Board, some board members raised concerns about the province’s existing local Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, which already provides guidelines and streamlines the process for PPP projects.

Vice Gov. Glenn Anthony Soco said the previous Sangguniang Panlalawigan already enacted a local PPP ordinance that defines the parameters of the PPP projects of the province, in order for the province to craft its own policies and guidelines, streamline the process, and approve PPP projects faster and more efficiently.

The board members emphasized that the MOA should not override but must complement the existing PPP ordinance of the province.

Board Member (BM) Stanley Caminero proposed an amendment to the draft MOA that would allow the existing local PPP ordinance of Cebu Province to be fully effective in implementing the agreement between the Capitol and PPP Center of the Philippines.

ABC President and ex-officio BM Celestino “Tining” Martinez also questioned if the agreement requires expenses on the part of the province, to which the author of the resolution, BM Antonio Bacaltos Jr., clarified that there is no provision in the agreement that would entail expenses from the province.

Bacaltos also emphasized that the MOA is primarily intended to provide a framework of cooperation and coordination between the province and the PPP Center in the identification, development and approval, procurement, implementation, and monitoring of PPP projects, including technical assistance, capacity-building activities, guidance and monitoring, and other institutional support with regard to the province’s PPP projects.

“It does not in any way authorize, approve, award, procure, finance, or execute any specific PPP projects or contracts,” Bacaltos said.

The PPP Center is the primary agency responsible for facilitating the implementation of the country’s PPP Program and PPP projects. This agency is mandated under Republic Act No. 11966, or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines.(MyTVCebu)