CITING its significance, the strategy on governance being practiced by the Valenzuela City government under the leadership of Mayor Rex Gatchalian has obviously inspired many specifically the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which eventually adapted it as a national policy.
As a result, the DILG has launched its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the People Initiative for Local Governments (LGU P4) primarily designed to jump-start stronger partnerships between the LGUs and the private sectors for the implementation of infrastructure and basic services.
According to Mayor Gatchalian, the PPP was the second governance practice employed by the city government that has been adapted by the DILG as a national policy.
The first one was the ‘Simple Speed and Service Excellence’ (3S Plus) in public service program, which also became one of the bases for the creation of Joint Memorandum Circular signed by DILG and Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
3S has been hailed as its implementation allowed the city to increase its revenues. It aims to bring graft and corruption to a zero level, changes the employer-employee culture in the city government, simplify and streamline the city’s business transactions, and engaging the public in giving insight on governance, said Zyan Caiña, the city’s Public Information Officer.
DILG Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ Sueno said the LGU P4 will serve as the vehicle for private sector participation in the provision of infrastructure and social services that will be carried out by the local sectors.
The public-private partnership can be forged through the following schemes, among others: Build-and-Transfer; Build-Lease-and-Transfer; Build-Operate-and-Transfer; Contract-Add-and-Operate; Develop Operate-and-Transfer; Rehabilitate-Operate-and-Transfer; Concession; Joint Venture; Lease or Affermage; Management Contract using or without LGU funds; Service Contract using or without LGU funds; Divestment or Disposition; Corporatization; Incorporation of a Subsidiary with private sector equity; and Gratuitous Donations.
During a forum organized recently by the DILG-Local Government Authority, the Valenzuela chief executive presented before a delegation composed of representatives from the academe, local government and national government agencies the success story of the city in applying the PPP model in implementing urban renewal initiatives for the benefit of the people.
He said the city government has started engaging in PPP when a measure called Joint Venture Ordinance was passed in 2014. Two landmark LGU-initiated PPP projects were rolled out immediately after — the construction and operation of the Valenzuela Town Center inside the Valenzuela People’s Park and the rehabilitation of the 22-year-old Marulas Public Market, he said.
The former lawmaker-turned-mayor added: “The city government was able to maximize limited resources through utilization of private funds for public services such as the public market. It also was able to boost the local economy due to the new investment that came in after the implementation of the two PPP projects.” GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
