DILG wants the barangay to benefit from PPP projects

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) intends to empower the barangay under the Duterte administration and make sure that the barangay will benefit from public-private partnership projects.  

"We would like to focus on the barangays. If we empower the barangays that is when we solve a lot of problems," DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said during the department's turnover ceremony on Monday.

Sueno wants to take PPP projects away from the Manila-centric plant and bring the flagship infrastructure program of the Aquino administration to the barangay level.

"Ang PPP ngayon nasa taas lang. Sila lang sa national government ang nagpaplano ng PPP. Karamihan ginagawa ang PPP sa Metro Manila. Walang PPP sa Northern Luzon, sa Visayas kaunti lang. Lalong wala sa Mindanao," Sueno said.

"Let the local government outside Metro Manila... come up with smaller PPPs. Smaller pero doon galing ito sa ibaba. Doon galing sa local government units natin. This is a very good idea," he added.

According to the PPP Center, the government has awarded to the respective contractors 12 projects with a combined value of P200.48 billion.

Some of the biggest PPP projects ares the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, South Integrated Transport System, Phase II of the NAIA Expressway, and the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension.

The fourth DILG secretary from Mindanao will call for a dialogue with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on how to implement his proposals.

Letting PPP projects trickle down to the barangay can empower Filipinos and support the fight of President Rodrigo Duterte against crime, corruption, and illegal drugs.

"With the barangays already empowered, I think under the leadership of President Duterte, the empowered Filipinos can solve and eliminate the problems on drugs, criminality and corruption in three to six months. He needs our help. With empowered Filipinos hindi mapapahiya si President Duterte," Sueno said.

As part of his duties at the DILG, Sueno will touch base with all the regional offices throughout the country.

Congressman and local government executives witnessed the turnover ceremony at DILG, including Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao, the brother of boxing champ and Senator Manuel 'Manny' Paquiao, as well as Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat and Sultan Kudarat Governor Sultan Pax Mangudadatu.

Undersecretary Austere Panadero turned over the DILG flag to Sueno. Also, the other undersecretaries and heads of attached agencies, including Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa were at the turnover ceremony on behalf of outgoing Secretary Mel Sarmiento who was out of the country. – VDS, GMA News