LINGAYEN—Investments in Pangasinan are expected to finally come in droves with the passage of a provincial code adopting a public-private partnership (PPP) approach towards economic growth and sustained development.

This developed as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. unanimously approved the code in their regular session last March 26.

The approval, according to Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan, is another welcome development for Pangasinan being one of the first five provinces in the country to adopt such scheme, along with Cavite, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar and Nueva Ecija.

Calimlim earlier said members of the board have unanimously agreed that with the PPP scheme, Pangasinan is on its way to establish a well-structured and transparent investment program that will spur development in the future.

Calimlim explained that projects under PPP must be feasible, affordable and should indicate commercial viability.

PPP is a form of legally enforceable contract between the province and private sector proponent (PSP), which requires new investments from the PSP and which transfers key risks to the PSP in which payments are made in exchange for performance for the purpose of delivering a service traditionally provided by the public sector.

Also, PPP will serve as an essential part of the overall infrastructure reform policy of the province. This will encourage performance-based management of the delivery of public services applying commercial principles and incentives by introducing competition in and for the market and by involving users and stakeholders in the decision-making process, infrastructure and regulatory reform.

Under its procedures, a PPP selection committee composed of the following, chairperson (at least third ranking officer of the province), secretary (provincial legal officer), the provincial treasurer, provincial planning and development officer and one representative from and selected by the SP (probably the chair of the committee on investment and appropriations) will be formed.

All PPP contracts must be signed by the governor with prior authorization by the sanggunian.

The PPP-RA shall perform contract management functions such as partnership management, performance management, risk management, and contract administration for all arrangements entered by the province. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

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