The National Economic and Development Authority-Regional Office VI (NEDA-VI) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines launched the first PPP Knowledge Corner in the Visayas on April 10, 2018 at the NEDA-VI Knowledge Center, NEDA-VI Office, Iloilo City.
It was officially opened by NEDA Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla along with OIC-ARD Gilberto A. Altura of NEDA-VI, and Director Frances Yani P. Domingo of the PPP Center of the Philippines. OIC-ARD Altura welcomed the partners and guests to the launching activity. He remarked that NEDA-VI has been assisting LGUs and GOCCs, but gaps remain especially in translating the proposals of LGUs, RLAs, and SUCs into reality.

Asec. Sombilla expressed her confidence that the presence of a PPP Knowledge Corner at NEDA-VI and other NEDA regional offices will result in stronger and lasting collaboration with the PPP Center of the Philippines in the provision of technical assistance to development partners that should ultimately benefit the people of Western Visayas. The PPP Knowledge Corner aims to support the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” mega infrastructure program.

Located within the NEDA-VI Knowledge Center, the PPP Knowledge Corner contains various reference materials including amendments of the Build-Operate-Transfer Law and its implementing rules and regulations, the guidelines and procedures for entering into joint venture agreements between government and private entities, and a guidebook with templates on the preparation of PPP contracts, among others.
The launching was followed by an Orientation Seminar on PPP Concepts and Processes for the NEDA-VI staff and its partners from national government agencies, local government units, and state universities and colleges in Western Visayas.
Atty. Domingo provided an overview of the PPP Knowledge Corner and its objectives to strengthen the appreciation for PPP as a funding scheme for government programs, projects and activities.

Mr. Agape Sem Comendador, presented the guidelines of the PPP Program and Assistant Director Jomel Anthony Gutierrez discussed the PPP as a strategy for the advancement of the local government units.

Ms. Ma. Isabel B. Blancia, OIC-Division Chief of the Project Development, Investment Programming and Budgeting Division of NEDA-VI presented the regional priority programs and projects initially listed in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) 2017-2022 being proposed for PPP funding.

The establishment of the PPP Knowledge Corner and the conduct of an orientation is an offshoot of the Memorandum of Agreement between NEDA and the PPP Center signed by NEDA Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and PPP Executive Director Ferdinand A. Pecson on January 29, 2018.

The PPP Knowledge Corner is under the supervision of the Development Research Division of NEDA-VI with assigned focal persons to facilitate client concerns and referrals to the PPP Center of the Philippines. It is accessible to researchers and development partners during office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (NEDA6 DRD).