THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE Partnership (PPP) Desk and PPP Facilitation Initiative, through the collaboration of the PPP Center and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), was officially launched in Acacia Hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Starting Strong: Mindanao Public-Private Partnership Kick-off Forum gathered local chief executives from various cities and provinces from Mindanao, and representatives from the public and private sectors.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno emphasized that the ceremonial launch kickstarts the public’s stronger partnership with the private sector in advancing infrastructure growth in Mindanao.
“The desk is not just open physically in the MinDA office but digitally for every LGU and agency across Mindanao. It is designed as one stop for PPP support from project identification and structuring, to legal, investor matching, and capacity development,” Magno said in his message.
The PPP Desk, working jointly with the PPP Center, serves as a dedicated unit to facilitate and coordinate PPP initiatives and support in Mindanao to help develop and implement sustainable infrastructure projects.
It will stand as a technical and coordination hub for LGUs in Mindanao to guide them in crafting local PPP policies, and connect the LGUs to potential private sector investors.
“It is really the desire to bring development to Mindanao in whatever manner,” Magno said.
By promoting the use of PPPs, Magno added that the government aims to address the challenges of limited public financing, considering the expanding infrastructure demands.
PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez said the national center is committed to continuing to strengthen the capacity of LGUs in high-impact projects aligned with national development priorities.
“This renewal will seek to keep implementing agencies updated on the process and requirements under the new PPP legal framework, while refining areas of cooperation to facilitate both solicited and unsolicited PPP projects,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez emphasized the significance of PPP in development, citing the tangible benefits of Mactan Cebu International Airport after it was awarded a PPP concession to Aboitiz.
The Davao International Airport is part of the Bundled Airports Project over a 30-year concession period, along with Southern Luzon International Airport and Sayak Airport, with a total project cost of PhP16.048 billion.
In October 2024, the MinDA and the PPP Center renewed their commitment to advancing infrastructure development in Mindanao through the renewal of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Signed in 2017, the collaboration establishes a framework for promoting PPPs for Mindanao projects and enhancing the capacity of LGUs.
MinDa lists PPP priorities in Mindanao, which include water systems, energy and utilities in off-grid areas to achieve a 50/50 energy mix by 2030, transport and connectivity, digital infra; agriculture and food security; tourism and hospitality; and health and public services.
