SONA 2014: PNoy cites infrastructure deals under PPP program

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday extolled the numerous infrastructure projects the government was able to start and finish under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program as proof that his administration’s good governance yields prosperity.
 
In his State of the Nation Address, Aquino said his administration was able to sign and award seven PPP projects worth P62.6 billion from December 2011 to June 2014, which is more than the six solicited PPP initiatives inked in the past three administrations.

According to an earlier report, the seven PPP deals awarded by the Aquino administration are:

• Daang Reyna-Daang Hari connector road to the South Luzon Expressway
• 9,300 school buildings under Phase-1 PPP for School Infrastructure Project
• 10,679 school buildings under Phase-2 PPP for School Infrastructure Project
• Philippine Orthopedic Center modernization
• Elevated expressway access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals I, II and III
• Metro Rail automated, integrated ticketing
• Three inter-modal mass transportation terminals at the outskirts of Metro Manila.

 
The PPP program was launched by the Aquino administration in 2010 as a way to boost the Philippines’ decrepit infrastructure, considered a major bottleneck in attracting foreign direct investments.
 
Aquino said that if before, the government had to offer corporations incentives to invest in the country, now businesses compete with each other for the chance to build infrastructure projects.
 
Proof that the country had developed a favorable investment climate for infrastructure, Aquino said, were the billions of pesos in premiums paid by the companies that secured the rights to build the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the NAIA Expressway 2. The premium for the new Cebu airport was P14 billion while that for the new expressway was P11 billion.
 
The other major infrastructure projects the Aquino administration was able to complete since 2010 include the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), Aluling Bridge in Ilocos Sur and the Ternate-Nasugbu Road connecting Cavite and Batangas. — JDS, GMA News