PPP Center executive director steps down

Executive Director of the Public- Private Partnership Center ( PPP) Cosette V. Canilao is resigning from her post effective March 8, 2016 for personal reasons. President Benigno Aquino III accepted her resignation.

“Nothing too serious but still pressing,” she told reporters yesterday when asked about her reason for stepping down.

“I want to spend more time with my son. He was five years old when I took over the PPP Center. He’s ten now.” (“He doesn’t watch the news so I can use him as an excuse,” she jested.) She was appointed in October, 2011, replacing Philamer C. Torio, who resigned to study abroad.

“I’m glad that I am leaving a strong institution,” Canilao declared.

During her term, the PPP Center awarded a dozen of projects and targets to complete a handful of deals before the Aquino regime ends in the middle of this year. The previous three administrations only managed to implement half a dozen solicited PPP projects.

So far, part of the PPP Act has been endorsed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Senate is reviewing it.

Still, without a PPP Act, the next administration can still save two to three years if it hits the ground running and abide by the institutional projects already in place, she noted.

However, if the PPP Act is passed this May, project implementation will be faster. Proponents can cut the usual duration of the tender process from the present 18 months to just twelve.

Furthermore, Canilao is batting for the PPP Center’s inclusion in the Cabinet, in the Infrastructure Committee as well as the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the NEDA.

“The PPP Center should be part of the cabinet for more clout and better project implementation,” she reasoned.

She also urged for a fixed tenure for the head of the center.