Achieving countryside growth with PPP for LGUs

YES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) can spur economic growth in their own localities by creating their own PPP programs. They do not have to wait for the national government to dictate the pace of economic growth in their own locality and wait for the roll-out of the nationally-led PPP initiatives. The LGUs are empowered to create their own.

However, most local leaders and their decision-making bodies are clueless how to move forward.

As part of the capacity-building to empower LGUs to create their own local PPP programs, the Center for Global Best Practices, in collaboration with Forensic Law and Policy Strategies, will be running a special seminar entitled, PPP Code for LGUs, on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

This pioneering program is highly recommended for LGUs, National Government Agencies, Private Companies who want to participate in PPPs in LGUs, Banks and Financing Institutions, Law Firms, Non-Governmental Organizations, Foundations, Funding and Donor Agencies and the private sector who wish to do business with the LGUs. Those who will attend this seminar will be provided with the PPP model templates that is aligned with the Local Government Code of 1991. The valuable information that public officials can get out of this will enable their LGUs to have a comprehensive PPP policy that can fast track their negotiations, contract drafting, selection of private sector proponent and implementation of PPP projects. It will provide them all available modalities and describing the appropriate procedures for PPP in the LGU level. For inquiries, please call Manila lines: (+63 2) 556-8968 or 69; telefax (+63 2) 842-7148 or 59; Cebu lines: (+63 32) 512-3106 or 07; Baguio line: (+63 74) 423-5148. You may also check details and all other upcoming best practices seminars including “What LGUs Should Know About Procurement Law to Stay Out of Trouble” at www.cgbp.org.

This learning opportunity will feature former Department of Justice Secretary, Atty. Alberto C. Agra, who is the only 1 out of 2 in the world who is both a certified PPP specialist and a certified PPP regulations specialist. As president of Forensic Law and Policy Strategies, he has extensively researched, analysed and devoted a great amount of time and resources to create the model PPP Code for LGUs that is now adopted by 16 cities, municipalities and 8 provinces. He has also published Knowing PPP, BOT and JV: A Legal Annotation and has issued 11 policy papers on PPP. He has been teaching Law on Public Corporations/ Local Governments for 19 years at the Ateneo de Manila College of Law.

Topics he will discuss include PPP and Private Sector Participation modalities — Concessions, Build-Operate-Transfer Schemes, Joint Ventures, Lease and Affermage, Management and Service Contracts, Corporatization; procedures (solicited, unsolicited and negotiated); and funding mechanisms (project-finance, equity contributions, loans, and subsidies).

Those who are interested to attend the seminar are encouraged to avail of the early bird and group discounts. Seats are limited and pre-registration is required.