Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC) to establish a collaborative framework to develop a robust pipeline of PPP projects for local government units (LGUs) and other USAID partner institutions.
The MOU was signed by Rebekah Eubanks, USAID acting mission director, and Ma. Cynthia Hernandez, PPP Center executive director, in the presence of Eleazar Ricote, PPPC deputy executive director, Jay de Quiros, USAID Economic Growth specialist and Private Sector Engagement co-lead, Alex Brillantes, Jr., PhD, Urban Connect chief of party, and Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, DPA, Urban Connect Objective 2 lead.
“With this Memorandum of Understanding, USAID looks forward to leveraging our collective strengths, expertise, and resources so our efforts build upon each other’s successes. It is essential to foster an environment where partnerships can thrive, ensuring that both the public and private sectors can work together effectively toward common goals,” said Jay de Quiros, USAID Economic Growth Specialist and Private Sector Engagement Co-Lead.
Under this MOU, the PPPC will collaborate with USAID through its various projects to support its partner institutions in the development, evaluation, approval, procurement, and implementation of PPP projects. This includes training and capacity development programs to ensure these institutions are well-equipped to undertake PPP processes, thereby maintaining a sustainable pipeline of PPP projects. Additionally, the feasibility of funding pre-project activities, through the PPPC’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility, may be evaluated.
PPPC’s Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez emphasized that “[T]his MOU articulates the commonalities between our objectives and approaches and establishes a basis for ongoing dialogue and cooperation.”
This partnership supports the rollout of the newly enacted Republic Act (RA) 11966, also known as the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, aimed at fostering a more conducive environment for private investment in public infrastructure and promoting sustainable development initiatives effectively.
On the same day, the PPPC signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Tagbilaran City LGU, represented by Mayor Jane Yap and City Administrator Cathy Torremocha. The MOA establishes a framework for developing and executing PPP projects at the city level. USAID’s Urban Connect facilitated this signing, along with two additional MOAs with the LGUs of General Santos and Zamboanga cities.
PPPs are crucial for addressing infrastructure and public service challenges by leveraging private sector investments to mobilize financial resources and bring specialized expertise, ultimately leading to higher quality and more efficient public service delivery without straining public finances. PPPs have been identified as a key cross-cutting strategy in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
USAID supports numerous development projects in the Philippines, covering various sectors including economic development and local governance, environmental management, energy, health, education, and workforce development.
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