The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), conducted a three-day Business Model Workshop for Local Government Units (LGUs) from August 20 to 22, 2024. The hybrid event, held at the Park Inn Hotel by Radisson North EDSA in Quezon City and accessible via Zoom, aimed to strengthen the local PPP program and provide practical insights for improving PPP implementation across the Philippines.
The LGU Business Model Workshop is part of WBG’s ongoing technical assistance to bolster the country’s local PPP landscape. With Castalia Advisors leading the consulting efforts, the workshop focused on three key subsectors: energy efficiency, solid waste management, and affordable housing. Castalia Advisors presented preliminary studies and prepared business models that aim to guide LGUs in adopting sustainable and effective PPP projects.
“The PPP business models are conceptual designs for potential projects that align with the existing legal and regulatory framework. These projects, once developed to meet market standards, could be approved and procured by LGUs as PPPs within two years, leveraging the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF),” explained PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia C. Hernandez. The PDMF is a revolving fund managed by the PPP Center, providing resources for the procurement of advisory and support services to assist with project preparation, structuring, and monitoring.
The workshop also featured a discussion on the recently enacted PPP Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). PPP Center’s Director of Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service, Feroisa Francisca T. Concordia, provided an insightful overview of the key features of the new law, helping to further equip LGUs in their PPP endeavors.
In addition, sector-specific business models were presented in detail by WBG and Castalia Advisors, sparking valuable discussions. Representatives from various LGUs actively participated in the open forum, offering feedback and perspectives on the draft models, ensuring the proposed strategies would meet the needs of their respective communities.
The workshop concluded with commentaries from resource persons in national agencies, including Director Patrick Aquino from the Department of Energy and Director Mark Aeron Sambar from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between national and local agencies in the success of PPP initiatives.
The event was attended by representatives from several key cities, including Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, Iloilo City, Davao City, Mandaluyong, and Pasay, highlighting the nationwide interest in expanding local PPP programs.
This workshop marks another step forward in the efforts to create more sustainable and effective public-private partnerships, with the ultimate goal of improving the delivery of public services and infrastructure across the Philippines.