Govt to bid out 3 PPP projects before July — Purisima

In line with its public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, the Aquino administration is planning to bid out at least three infrastructure projects during the first half of the year, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said over the weekend. Purisima said the government cannot disclose yet the details of these infrastructure projects, "but we can assure you that we are committed to bidding out more projects this year and the next as the need for infrastructure in the country is quite substantial." He pointed out that it is essential to build key infrastructure projects as soon as possible to attract more investments and create job opportunities in the Philippines. Purisima reiterated that there are "no midnight deals" in these PPP projects. The Aquino administration will not stick with "unsolicited proposals" because these are more prone to so-called "sweetheart deals," he said. In PPP projects, the state and the private sector collaborate to build a road, hospital, or airport, with the private company usually given the rights to run it for a certain period. Last November, the Aquino administration initially bared its plan to invite private sector in some infrastructure projects under the PPP program. These include the creation of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (Phase II), Light Rail Transit (LRT)-2 East Extension, LRT-1 South Extension. The government is also looking for investors who will privatize the LRT-1, Metro Rail Transit-3, and Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, and develop the New Bohol Airport, Puerto Princesa Airport, and New Legaspi (Daraga) Airport. — JE/OMG, GMANews.TV