President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to tap conglomerates and other private sector players for building big ticket public infrastructure projects.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan revealed that the administration is eyeing public-private partnership (PPP) to finance 45 of the 194 flagship infrastructure projects approved under the “Build Better More” or BBM program, a rebranding of the Duterte-era “Build, Build, Build” initiative.
“The government shall harness the financial and technical resources of the private sector, which allows the public sector to allocate its funds for greater investments in human capital development, especially to address the scarring in health and education due to the pandemic and provide targeted assistance that protects vulnerable sectors from economic shocks,” Balisacan said Thursday (March 9) after the NEDA Board meeting in Malacañang.
Marcos has been more active in involving private sector players in his administration, with bilyonaryo Sabin Aboitiz, president and CEO of the Aboitiz Group, heading the newly formed Private Sector Advisory Council.
RobinsonsLand president and DEO Frederick Go, nephew of the late bilyonaryo tycoon John Gokongwei, is Marcos’ adviser for entrepreneurship.
— Prince Golez (@pr1ncegolez) March 9, 2023