Metro Pacific, San Miguel take first crack at PPP

TWO of the Philippines’ top conglomerates have first dibs at two infrastructure projects originally lined up for the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. Kenneth Tanate, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Infrastructure Staff, said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) removed the P21-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Link would no longer be included in the PPP lineup for 2011.

The NLEX-SLEX Link is an unsolicited proposal submitted by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which is a unit of Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

The project would involve constructing a 13.2-kilometer elevated road through the Philippine National Railway tracks from the end of NLEX at C3 to the beginning of Skyway 1 at Buendia.

Besides the NLEX-SLEX Link, the planned City Terminal for Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) likewise was removed from the PPP list.

A consortium led by Philco Aero is in negotiations with state-run Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) for the construction of the new DMIA terminal.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) earlier said it was in talks with Philco Aero for the development of the airport terminal.

Besides MPIC and SMC, other parties have announced they were interested in the PPP projects.

South Korea’s military pension fund was one of them, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).

Separately, Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Cristino Panlilio told reporters that he urged the Military Mutual Aid Association during a visit to South Korea last week to infuse a part of its $5-billion fund into the PPP projects that the Aquino administration would roll out.

Tanate said the government has “13 bankable projects” ready for bidding next year.

The NEDA official said the P70-billion Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-Light Rail Transit (LRT) Expansion Project was broken into three projects.

The first project involves the operation and maintenance of LRT Line 1 (LRT 1) North Extension Project, while the second is the construction of the LRT 1 South Extension Project.

The third project is the Common Ticketing System Project for LRT 1, LRT 2 and MRT Line 3.

Tanate said the government decided to break the P70 billion MRT/LRT Expansion Project to prevent an investor from getting too big a project, and instead distributing it to more bidders.

Other projects to be rolled out next year are the P11.3-billion MRT Line 2 Extension Project, the P7.54 billion New Bohol Airport, the P4.36 billion Puerto Princesa Airport, the P10.5 billion CALA Expressway- Manila-side Section, and the P3.08 billion Daraga International Airport.

Also included in the PPP list are the Privatization of the Operation and Maintenance of the Laguindingan Airport, and the Supply of Treated Bulk Water for Metro Manila, the costs for both of which have yet to be determined.

For 2012 and beyond, the government identified 73 projects under its PPP portfolio.

These include airports, roads, rails, water supply, irrigation, school buildings, health facilities, solid waste management services, and other social support projects.

Of these projects, 28 require P263.5 billion in investments.

In the power sector alone, 43 projects will be lined up for PPP with an indicative amount of P348.5 billion

Posted via email from Aviation Professionals dot Org