A proposed ordinance amending the Provincial Ordinance No. 2015-04, otherwise known as Province of Cebu Integrated Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, was passed on second reading during the Provincial Board’s regular session today, July 1.
The amendments are necessary, said sixth district Board Member Glenn Soco, in order to harmonize the ordinance with the Republic Act No. 11966 or the PPP Code of the Philippines which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law in December last year.
BM Soco, chair of the PB’s committee on budget and appropriations, said the proposed amendment ordinance highlights Cebu’s autonomy in undertaking PPPs — from inception, approval, implementation, and monitoring.
It also places emphasis on the roles of the respective Sanggunians and Provincial Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), in the approval and confirmation of local PPPs.
“This will streamline the processes that we have in relation to our PPPs aligned to national policies, and it is also to exercise our local autonomy functions as a province,” BM Soco, who authored the proposed ordinance, told 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬.
“The passage of a local ordinance to support the PPP Code is important; we are an active Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and we are likewise a province that gives importance to economic enterprise activities,” he added.
The new ordinance is expected to create a more favorable environment for private sector investments by simplifying and clarifying the steps involved in PPs. It introduces improved investment recovery schemes and designates the EEC, chaired by Gov. Gwen Garcia, as the primary unit for monitoring and overseeing PPP initiatives in the province.
One of the significant objectives of the proposed amended ordinance is to simplify and expedite the processes associated with PPP projects. BM Soco acknowledged that while the national PPP Code sets a robust framework, its complexity can sometimes hinder quick execution.
“Our proposed ordinance has been carefully crafted to clarify and streamline the steps involved in PPPs,” he explained. “This is essential for advancing infrastructure development, renewable energy projects, waste-to-energy initiatives, and water management solutions. | 𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑒 𝐽ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑦𝑜𝑐𝑎 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑑𝑎, 𝐶𝑁𝑈 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛, 𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐺𝑤𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑐 , 𝐶𝑁𝑈 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛