PPP still a myth

It still a standstill for  Skyway 3, one of the biggest projects that fall under the public-private partnership (PPP).

No less than the head of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) confirmed it three years after  President Aquino announced the project.

DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the supplemental toll operation agreement of the project is still on President Aquinos desk.

It was the same reply Abaya gave when theDaily Tribune first asked about it some six months ago.
Skyway 3 will traverse from Gil Puyat Station in Makati up to Monumento in Caloocan.

Compared with the South Luzon Expressway-North Luzon Expressway connector, Skyway 3 is more expensive because of so many private properties that will be hit when the government pays the right of way of the project.

STOA of Citra/San Miguel Corp. Skyway stage 3 now at OP (Office of the President) for approval, Abaya explained.

The DoTC chief didn’t give substantial reply regarding the P11-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway.

NAIA expressway handled by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Not sure of time frame, the official said.

The DoTC and DPWH are the two government agencies that handle PPP projects.
Both departments have not seen the completion of any such project.

Earlier, Abaya denied that the government lacks legal and technical knowledge on how to roll out PPP thats why three years after President Aquinos announcement, none among those big ticket projects was built.
The former congressman of Cavite also said criticisms about the project are acceptable but not to the extent that they fall  below the belt or as if sounding like having a crab mentality.

Governments PPP has been labeled power point presentation by many critics as none of it has been built three years after announcement that all big ticket projects will be turned over to private sector.

Unless one or two  are built next year, we will not see our gross domestic product growing by at least seven percent. Infrastructure are very important because those who want to do business here look at it before throwing their money, said Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran.

source:  Philippine Tribune