Government sees P348.5-billion investments in power sector

MANILA, Philippines - The government is expecting P348.5 billion worth of investments in the power sector under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.

Board of Investments (BOI) managing head Cristino L. Panlilio said that for 2012 and beyond, they are considering 43 new projects in the power sector with a combined worth of P348.5 billion.

Likewise, Panlilio said that there are already 28 projects that require P263.5 billion in investments that are up for competitive selection. He said that for 2012, 73 projects have been identified for PPP.

During the PPP roadshow in Nov. 18 to 19 at the Marriot Hotel, Panlilio said the government will introduce a total of 10 PPP projects for 2011 worth P127.8 billion.

For 2010, the PPP projects are centered in three sectors. These are tourism, agri-business and renewable energy. In the tourism sector the projects are - the MRT, LRT Expansion project worth $1.56 billion; LRT Line 2 East Extension worth $251 million; Puerto Prinsesa Airport $97 million and New Bohol Airport $168 million.

In the agribusiness sector, the two projects are Kabulnan two Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project worth $319 million and the Logistics Support on the Agri-Fishery Products Supply Chain worth $33 million. There are three renewable energy projects, the Wind Farm Power Project worth $125 million, the Northwind Pamplona Project worth $75 million and the Northwind Aparri Project worth $100 million.

Panlilio said that it is important to fast track the implementation of PPP programs and projects that will focus on infrastructure support facilities for tourism, agriculture, social services and growth center.

In line with these, he said that President Aquino has directed the reorganization and renaming of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Center into the PPP Center in renewed efforts to accelerate the financing, construction and operation of key government PPP infrastructure projects.

In fact, the president has already signed an executive order that provides a legal platform to hasten private sector investments into the country amid a stable investment climate.

Likewise, Mr. Aquino has earmarked around P300 million working fund for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and activities of selected PPP programs and projects. The president also mandated the PPP Center to complete within six months the processing of qualified solicited proposals subject to existing laws, guidelines, and rules and regulations.