Rivera pushes for more PPP projects

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (06 February 2014) – The Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPPCP), a national agency under National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and City Mayor Ronnel Rivera are looking at ways to expand the capacity of the city to create viable PPP projects.  

Under Resolution No. 536, Series of 2013, Mayor Rivera was authorized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enter into an internship agreement with the PPPCP for the implementation of an integrated economic development for regional trade in General Santos City.

Mayor Rivera also ordered executives of the City Planning and Development Office, City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office, City Engineer’s Office and City Administrator’s Office to meet with representatives of the PPPCP headed by Director IV Eli Ricote and consultant Atty. Evelyn Jiz to address the creation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code.

In their discussion last Tuesday (February 04) they have requested Mayor Rivera to issue an executive order for them to start the formal conceptualization of the PPP Code.

It was suggested by the PPPCP for the city government to form a technical working group (TWG) that will be trained by the PPPCP to assist and supervise any plausible investors that are interested to partake in a joint venture with the local government.

Aside from that, the TWG will also receive training in doing financial models, market sounding, technical and engineering analysis, and market feasibility studies upon the finalization of the PPP Code.

Currently, both of the PPPC and the local government of General Santos City target more PPP projects for the improvement of the GenSan Public Market and of the food and transport infrastructures.

Atty. Jiz commended Mayor Rivera for promoting PPPs to implement government plans for economic development.

“It is a good thing Mayor Rivera acknowledged that the local government of General Santos City has to be resourceful in establishing its projects. With the help from the private sector, Rivera is much closer in accomplishing his vision,” Jiz stated. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)