IN 2010, the incoming Aquino administration believed that the tempo of infrastructure project implementation would be improved by undertaking public-private partnership activity.
Progress in this arena was disappointing, however. Various reasons were put forward as to why this was the case. My view was the partnership concept was not well-established. In particular, it seemed that the public sector lacked an understanding of the criteria that needed to be fulfilled before the private sector would be able to participate.
For example, one project proposed as being a candidate for public-private partnership was to enhance facilities at Bacolod-Silay International Airport. The public sector seemed to take the initiative with this project and proposed that P20.26 billion should be invested in the airport. The response from the private sector was polite but lukewarm and the project was never implemented.
This is hardly surprising. Provincial airports throughout the world tend to be simple because passengers only want to pass through and leave as quickly as possible. In contrast, airports in or near megacities tend to be hubs where passengers change planes. This means that they will, typically, spend several hours and have time for shopping, meals, etc.
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So the public-private partnership means that both the public and private sector need to empathize with the aims and objectives of each other.
Infrastructure projects during the pandemic have different criteria compared to projects undertaken during ānormalā times. Specifically, the specter of unemployment is very much with us in 2021 ā more so than when the ābuild build buildā concept was introduced in 2018.
This can mean that a project which was, at best, marginal in 2018, can be taken more seriously because the benefits of employment generation are greater now than when unemployment is relatively low.
In fact, unemployment in 2021 is, of course, a serious matter. The negative impact of not proceeding with viable infrastructure projects now would exacerbate income inequality and poverty.
We need to accelerate the implementation of construction projects if at all possible.
This is not to downplay the importance of the Bayanihan 3 project which has recently been approved by House of Representatives committees.
We are heading towards even more challenging times in relation to unemployment, inflation, and poverty alleviation.
Specifically, I believe the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros bridge project should be considered more positively. The employment benefits are large and the eventual infrastructural benefits for Region 6 are huge.
Letās do it!/PN
