By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday, March 9 the government has either completed or started the implementation of half of the recommendations from the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) on infrastructure development.
Marcos made the announcement after a meeting with the advisory group in Malacañang Palace, saying this development validates the administration’s continued support to its private sector partners.
“And I’m happy to note that the recommendations that were given us by the Private Sector Advisory Council were essentially many of the things that we’re already doing,” he said. “And in fact, the list of recommendations that they gave, I would say half of them, are either in progress or have been completed. So we are once again moving in the right direction together with our private sector partners.”
Thursday’s meeting, which was also attended by various Cabinet members, focused on matters regarding key areas of infrastructure partnerships in the country, such as water, transport and mobility, logistics, energy, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
The PSAC’s recommendations for the water sector include certifying the bill creating the Department of Water Resources as urgent, adopting non-traditional and more sustainable technologies to protect watersheds, increasing funding for water projects, and implementing a water tariff based on affordability.
For the transport and mobility sector, the PSAC recommended the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through PPP this year, fast-tracking the award process for projects under the Original Proponent Status by 2023, and the development of the Aerodome strategy for the country’s aviation sector involving the private sector.
The advisory council also suggested the development of existing and key Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) assets into regional hubs capable of handling international vessels, updating of the privatization framework to encourage investments, and development of port support infrastructure.
For the energy sector, PSAC recommended the rationalization of the secondary price caps, the strengthening of local government units to facilitate energy project implementation, and the connection of small power utility groups to the grid.
Representing the advisory body in the meeting were PSAC convenor Sabin Aboitiz, Ramon Ang, and Manuel Pangilinan, among others.
Also present during the meeting were Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and officials of the Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and PPA.
