The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $300 million loan on August 20 to support the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen private sector participation in the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure development programme.
Government reforms supported by the ADB under the Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program (EPPIP) subprogram 2 seek to create the enabling policy environment that will allow public-private partnership (PPP) projects to flourish using private sector expertise and innovation.
“PPPs can raise the quality of life for citizens by providing reliable public services through efficient infrastructure. Reforms under the EPPIP program have been successful in stimulating the PPP market and improving the quality of infrastructure projects in the Philippines”, said Cristina Lozano, an ADB senior trade specialist.
With its fast-growing economy, diverse geography, expanding population, and rapid urbanisation, the Philippine government aims to raise infrastructure investments to 7.4 per cent of gross domestic product by 2022 from 5.1 per cent in 2016.
The BBB program, part of the medium-term Philippine Development Plan, is estimated to require a total $168 billion in investments for 75 priority projects nationwide.
To finance this, the government wants to use a funding mix composed of government spending, development assistance and private capital.
Priority sectors
The ADB has been supporting reforms that have helped ensure sustainable funding for and contingent support to PPPs.
The bank, according to its news releases, has also improved long-term infrastructure planning, strengthened the government’s capacity to manage the PPP programme, and enhanced the legal framework for PPP preparation, approval, and implementation.
Reforms also helped facilitate the use of PPPs by local government units (LGUs) as an alternative in pursuing infrastructure development.
The government-run PPP Center provided support to LGUs to develop and implement PPP projects in priority sectors such as water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, and urban transport.
“The Philippines has made significant progress since the PPP program was launched in late 2010”, said Kelly Bird, ADB country director for the Philippines.
“With a huge project pipeline being rolled out under the BBB program of President Rodrigo Duterte, leveraging public resources via private sector participation remains relevant.”
Philippine PPP framework a success
Since 2010, the Philippine government has awarded a total of 16 national PPP projects worth around $6.2 billion, of which 12 were tendered and awarded during the implementation of the EPPIP.
Feasibility studies for six projects were also completed during the programme period.
Classified in 2011 as an emerging country in terms of PPP readiness, the Philippines now ranks seventh in overall ranking, joining India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in the group of developed PPP markets, according to a 2014 report by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
A PPP market review conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) judged the Philippine PPP framework a success.
The ADB was established in 1966, and is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totalled $32.2 billion.
This article was appeared on Asian Development Bank under a Creative Commons License and is produced here with its permission.
Feature photo Asian Development BankÂ
Related:
- Philippines infrastructure: Build, build, build… but not so fast (AEC News Today)
- Philippines sees decade of 7% growth from US$180 bil infrastructure drive (The Edge Markets)
- Philippines resorts to short-term solutions for Metro Manila traffic (CNN Philippines)
- PH, China firming up financing for infra projects: Chinese envoy (Philippines News Agency)
Philippines gets $300 million PPP infrastructure loan added by Asian Development Bank on
View all posts by Asian Development Bank →
In 2017, ADB operations totalled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in co-financing.
Latest posts by Asian Development Bank (see all)
- RRTS: Increasing inter-island trade in the Philippines through island hopping – June 22, 2020
- Bayan Bayanihan brings food and hope to the poorest of the poor – May 21, 2020
- COVID-19: the time to act on food security is now – May 10, 2020
- No handwashing for 1 in 5 Indonesians as COVID-19 runs wild – May 8, 2020