‘PPP a strategic source of investment for LGUs’

By: Carlson B. Alelis

THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept is a strategic source of investment, can attract private investment, and respond to the needs of local government units (LGU), according to the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office 6.

NEDA-6 regional director Ro-Ann Bacal told local chief executives and officials from regions 6, 7, and 8 that PPP can help in the development of their localities.

“For the part of NEDA, we would like to remind the local chief executives and officials to be mindful also of your local development plans and your vision for your LGUs, in order to determine what exactly your priorities are,” she said during the Regional Orientation-Workshop on PPPs: Joint Venture Arrangements in Iloilo City on Aug. 14.

The event was organized by the PPP Center, an attached agency of NEDA.

Bacal said some projects are not in line with what is in the plan and become odd projects that are existent but do not respond to the concerns of LGUs.

She cited a recently opened mall in Bacolod City as an example of a PPP project that has helped the locality.

The building houses some products of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City. There is also a hotel near that mall where investors stay to discuss more projects for the locality, she said.

“We’re looking into areas where the LGUs’ objectives and goals can be achieved, but at the same time, can bring in revenues to the private sector,” she said.

Bacal added that private investors have been invited to look into the improvement of terminals and ports in Western Visayas to attract more foreign visitors. (PIA)