19 unsolicited proposals undergoing NEDA-ICC approval process

MANILA, Philippines — After the recent signing of the concession agreement for the Bulacan airport project, 19 other unsolicited proposals for infrastructure projects are moving through the approval process of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The agency said yesterday that as of Sept. 20, 20 unsolicited proposals have been submitted to NEDA-ICC for review.

Out of the 20 proposals, the unsolicited build-operate transfer (BOT) proposal for the Bulacan international airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, was approved by the NEDA Board in December 2018, and a concession agreement was signed with the government recently.

Two other projects, the New Panglao Bohol International Airport and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, have been reviewed by the ICC Technical Board (ICC-TB) and is due for ICC-Cabinet Committee action within the last week of September.

At least 10 projects have been presented to the ICC-TB, but have yet to complete ICC requirements or comply with ICC instructions.

These are the unsolicited proposals for Davao People Mover Project, C5 MRT- 10 Project, Fort Bonifacio-Makati Sky Train Project (DOTr), 50-year Integrated Development Plan for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIAA), IT Project for LGU City of Naga-UNLAD BAYAN Local Government Information System, Laguindingan Airport (CAAP), Davao International Airport (CAAP), Operation and maintenance (O&M) and facility upgrade of Kalibo International Airport (CAAP), Light Rail Transit (LRT) 6 Cavite Line A Project, and MRT-11 Project.

NEDA said the seven other proposals are still under evaluation by the ICC Secretariat and “undergoing refinements based on technical discussions with ICC member agencies (including the PPP Center), sponsor agencies, and/or original private proponents of these proposals.”

These are the following: Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEx), Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project, Cebu Monorail Transit System Project, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Corporate Center Project, North Luzon Express Terminal Project, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Tourist-Visa Section Online System Project, and Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense, Expressway Project of Manila Bay.

NEDA said the projects would undergo a “rigorous, holistic review” to ensure that they “fit into the goals and strategies of the government as in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.”

They should also conform to pertinent laws such as the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law.

“We view unsolicited proposals as an indication of private sector confidence in the Philippine economy. NEDA is doing its best to efficiently and speedily process these, allowing the private sector to innovate, while keeping in mind the public’s interest over the medium and long term,” Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia said.

NEDA is looking into the technical, financial, economic, social and environmental aspects of the projects submitted for appraisal. These include a review of the proponent’s financial model to check the rates of return and if they are consistent with proposed legal obligations under the draft concession agreement.