DILG pushes for Public-Private Partnerships in LGUs

Friday, June 24, 2011

DILG pushes for Public-Private Partnerships in LGUs

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan

MANILA, June 24 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently conducted a forum entitled "Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for LGUs" in order to deepen the understanding of local government units on the importance of PPPs to help fuel local economic development.

In a statement, the DILG said the forum is in support of government’s thrust toward greater and more meaningful participation of the private sector in development.

The two-day forum, which is a collaborative undertaking among the Department, the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), and the Regional Economic Development of the German Cooperation Agency (RED STEER), was held at the A-Venue Hotel in Manila.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero said that the thrust of the Department to push for PPP is in response to President Benigno S. Aquino’s call for a more active LGU-led PPP undertakings to carry out local development projects.

"Local governments should take on the challenge posed by the President to explore mutually-beneficial partnership agreements with the private sector for the implementation of programs and projects that will further push local economic development," Panadero said.

During the forum, the DILG Undersecretary also stressed that PPP is “not just a financing instrument, but a tool for regional and local economic development.”

He said the objective of the forum is to enhance the knowledge of the participants on the fundamentals, principles and benefits of PPPs, as well as on the various modes of PPP agreements.

"We are looking into ways by which PPP can be made more digestible to local governments including developing needed policies to help guide local PPPs," he said.

The activity also allowed local government units and national government agencies to learn from the presentations on the successful PPPs in the country such as those in Cebu, Bohol and Mandaluyong, he said.

Among those who shared their expertise on PPPs were: former Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, who discussed the different modalities of PPP; Atty. Raul Bito-on, who gave a presentation on the role of LGUs in PPP; and director Eleazar Ricote of NEDA's PPP Center, who gave updates on the services of his office.

Participants to the forum included representatives from the DILG, NEDA, and DTI, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Development Council, and the LGUs of Guimaras, Leyte, Alaminos City, Bohol, Sorsogon and South Cotabato. (RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

Cabatuan.com - Kasimanwa.com - Austere Panadero