CEBU, Philippines - Supporting the current thrust of the government in promoting Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is moving towards crafting programs that will encourage member companies to participate in the PPP call.
CCCI president Samuel Chioson announced that although there are already a few CCCI member companies which have pending plans to pursue partnership with the government, the chamber is going to intensify this support, urging each member companies support with the government’s thrust.
As an organization Chioson mentioned that CCCI has already several PPP projects, such as the Adopt-a-Police-Station, and Adopt-A-School programs and other social responsibility events initiated by the chamber.
He also mentioned the recent Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the chamber and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to create a 500-hectare to 1,000 hectare “Chamber Forest.”
However for individual member companies, Chioson said CCCI will provide a conducive environment that will encourage companies to pursue partnership with the government.
“Everyone in the business community is looking at wide range of ventures available in partnership with the government,’ said Chioson.
Meanwhile, in May this year, the Cebu Business Club (CBC) in partnership with Research, Education and Institutional Development (REID) launched its first PPP initiative in Cebu called “Partnership for Better Infrastructure,” or PBI.
The PBI will broaden participation in the allocation and implementation of infrastructure investments to support economic development and poverty reduction.
REID is a policy research advocacy group based in Pasig City. It selected Cebu as one of the six provinces where it will implement the PBI.
The REID Foundation, through a Memorandum of Agreement, will work in partnership with the CBC to advocate for better infrastructure in Cebu.
REID Foundation will provide technical assistance through a series of workshops on the national and regional economy, national budget, and procurement, among others. These activities are supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through The Asia Foundation (TAF).
Convinced of Cebu’s need for more and better infrastructure, several business chambers and civil society organizations partnered with CBC to support the PBI.
The project aims to participate and engage the government to ensure that recommended list of priority infrastructure projects for Cebu are considered and included in the National Government Budget, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and implemented with greater transparency, accountability and responsibility.
PBI will also develop strategies to assist the DPWH, Department of Tourism, DOTC and other government agencies involved in infrastructure development in asset preservation and in the preparation, budgeting, procurement, and monitoring the implementation of approved and funded infrastructure projects for Cebu.
Significantly, the PBI will also strongly advocate with the government to consult, utilize, consider and respect the expertise of other groups and individuals in the planning, development and implementation of infrastructure projects.