CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (Pamcham) cited the approved Public Private Partnership (PPP) code of the province eyeing this as an opportunity for the private sector to actively participate in local governance and economic development of the province.
Jim Jimenez, president of Pamcham said local businessmen have been waiting for so long the full implementation of PPP opportunities in the province.
Jimenez mentioned that private-public partnership is one of the flagship projects of President Benigno Aquino’s administration but admitted that mostly multi-national and international companies were able to join the bidding.
“PPP will give local businessmen a chance to participate in the implementation of projects in the province. This is a laudable action of the administration of Gov. Lilia Pineda,” Jimenez uttered.
He explained that the partnership will benefit the Kapampangans, the provincial government and the private sector as it promotes transparency and accountability.
“All projects and programs under PPP will be financed by the private sector. The provincial government will source out minimal amount or none at all. PPP will also open more job opportunities and will make the local economy stronger,” he said
Meanwhile, Second District Board Member Anthony Torres, chairman of the committee on trade and industry of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan clarified that the provincial government has been practicing and entering into private-public partnership.
However, Torres said the enactment of the PPP ordinance will strengthen and formalize all the transactions of the provincial government with the private sector.
“Even before the proposed PPP code the provincial government has been seeking the assistance of private sector in its programs and projects. With the presence of PPP in the province, we can make every partnership formal and with guidelines to follow,” Torres explained.
It was learned that the PPP has already been approved recently by the provincial board needing only the signature of Governor Lilia G. Pineda which is set upon her arrival next week.
BY JENNA LUMBANG
