THE Provincial Board (PB) of Negros Occidental Wednesday approved an ordinance adopting a legal framework to boost the public-private partnership (PPP) climate in the province.
Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental Chapter president Valentino Miguel Alonso, who moved for the passage of the ordinance on third and final reading, said the framework is dubbed “Negros Occidental Code Pursuing a Public-Private Partnership (P4) Approach towards Development.”
He said the framework is actually provided by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the province’s version mainly increased the participation of non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government councils on PPP ventures.
“Increasing their participation would result to greater transparency,” Alonso said adding that if “there is an opportunity for PPP then the local government can pursue it as it is already allowed by the ordinance.”
The framework is also seen to complement Republic Act 7718, or the Philippine Build-Operate-Transfer Law. The latter amended certain sections of Republic Act 6957, or an act authorizing the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector, and for other purpose.
The Negros Code P4 Approach towards Development also provides procedure for selecting the private sector proponent, adopting a contract management framework, and providing appropriations, among other purposes.
Alonso said the absence of a legal framework may cause the province to lose opportunity for investors to come in.
“It will be advantageous for the province if it chooses PPP as an alternative scheme in building projects,” Alonso said, adding that the ordinance can be replicated by local government units.
The board member said the Provincial Government recognizes the “strength” of the private sector. “If there are projects that need involvement of the private sector, as long as these are beneficial to the (LGU), why not.”
