Alderman seeks action on unsolicited PPP proposals

ITY Councilor Edgar Avila introduced a C proposed resolution requesting the City Mayor to act on the unsolicited proposal by Metro Pac Water Investments Corporation regarding the Baguio City wastewater and sanitation Improvement project, by convening the Public-Private Partnership Committee, in order to determine the viability of the said proposal as well as other unsolicited proposals previously submitted.

In the proposed resolution councilor Avila cited City Ordinance Numbered 61 series of 2017 which establishes the Baguio City Public-Private Partnership for the Peoples Initiative for the Peoples Initiative Code also known as the P4 Code.

Section 14 of the P4 Code provides the following, “(a) There is hereby created a Public-Private Partnership for the Peoples Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC) for purposes of selecting a Private Sector Proponent for a specific PublicPrivate Partnership for the Peoples Initiative (P4) Project. The Public-Private Partnership for the Peoples Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC) , to be constituted and convened by the City Mayor shall be composed of the following: (i) Chairperson-At least a third ranking officer of the City; (ii) The Secretary to the Sanggunian; (iii) The City Treasurer; (iv) The City Planning and Development Officer; (v) Five (5) representatives from and selected by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) designated in an appropriate resolution and (vi) two (2) representatives from and chosen by the accredited civil society organizations, people’s organizations and non-governmental organizations who are members of the City Development Council. A quorum of the Public-Private Partnership for the People’s Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC) shall be composed or a simple majority of all voting members. The Chairperson shall vote only in case of a tie. The Public-Private Partnership for the People’s Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC) with the approval of the City Mayor may invite provisional non-voting members from the national government agencies, regulatory agencies, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the private sector to observe in the proceedings of the Public-Private Partnership for the People’s Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC); and form a support staff composed of employees and staff of the City. (b) xxx.”

In requesting the City Mayor to convene the Public-Private Partnership for the People’s Initiative Selection Committee (P4-SC) and to act on the unsolicited proposal submitted by Metro Pac Water Investments Corporation Avila noted that the proposed project by the said corporation envisions the improvement and expansion of the City’s existing wastewater treatment facility and sewer lines, as well as the construction of new septage and sanitation systems all over the city. He also pointed out that it should be a top priority concern of the city to effectively oversee the wastewater treatment facility and sewer lines of the locality as well as the construction of new septage and sanitation systems.

An unsolicited proposal usually refers to project proposals submitted by the private sector, not in response to a formal solicitation or request by the Government, provided that all the following conditions are met: (1) Such projects involve a new concept or technology and/or are not part of the list of priority projects; (2) No direct government guarantee, subsidy or equity is required; (3) Not a component of an approved project; and (4) Government has invited by publication for three (3) consecutive weeks comparative or competitive proposals and no proposal is received for a period of sixty (60) working days, provided further that in the event another proponent submits a lower price proposal, the original proponent shall have the right to match that price within thirty (30) working days.