NEDA forms task force to speed up infra dev’t

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has established an inter-agency task force to set in motion policies and processes to address bottlenecks and gaps in the country’s infrastructure development.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia recently announced the establishment of the Project Facilitation, Monitoring and Innovation (PFMI) task force, a body that will institute policies and processes to address issues in the project cycle of infrastructure flagship projects.

The task force is composed of economic and major infrastructure agencies, according to NEDA.

The PFMI task force’s steering committee will be co- chaired by NEDA and the Department of Finance, while members of the committee include the departments of Budget and Management, Public Works and Highways and Transportation, Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Pernia also disclosed that NEDA is currently in discussions with oversight and key implementing agencies for the enhancement of the NEDA board and Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Project Screening Guidelines.

“As part of a more efficient planning and programming process of the government, programs, activities, and projects for inclusion in the country’s Public Investment Program must be examined early on and screened through a more rational and methodical process,” Pernia said.

The final version of the guidelines would help the government identify the appropriate procurement modality that is favorable to both the government and the public, he noted.

He added these guidelines would help the government address, minimize, if not totally avoid, issues in implementing projects that can be attributed to poor project planning and programming.

Pernia underscored the need to amend the Philippines’ two decades-old Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) Law and its implementing rules and regulations.

“(It is) among our priority regulations, so as to raise the efficacy of private sector participation and to keep policies attuned to the changing business environment,” Pernia said.