Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is an agreement between the public sector and private entities to jointly undergo certain projects which are normally provided by the public sector including but not limited to infrastructure and services.
PPPs are advantageous to both the public and private sectors as the former can acquire funding for projects and at the same time mitigate their risks. On the other hand, private entities entering into PPPs have the opportunity to invest in projects with a reasonable rate of return.
RA 9184: GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT REFORM ACT – PUBLIC- PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)
There are two (2) laws governing PPPs in the country, first, is Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. This law implements how the government procures infrastructure projects, goods, and consulting services from the private sector. RA 9184 among others, aims to have transparency, competitiveness, and the streamlining of the procurement process.
One of the salient provisions of this law is the rule in the bidding process of goods and services. The bidding process makes a competitive environment in which the government can ensure that only the most qualified private entities be awarded with important government infrastructure projects or in supply goods and other services.
RA 6957 AS AMENDED BY 7718: THE PHILIPPINE BUILD-OPERATE- AND TRANSFER (BOT) LAW – PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)
Republic Act 6957 – PPP
RA 6957 defines two (2) kinds of PPP, to wit”
“(a) Build-operate-and-transfer scheme. A contractual arrangement whereby the contractor undertakes the construction, including financing, of a given infrastructure facility, and the operation and maintenance thereof. The contractor operates the facility over a fixed term during which it is allowed to charge facility users appropriate tolls, fees, rentals, and charges sufficient to enable the contractor to recover its operating and maintenance expenses and its investment in the project plus a reasonable rate of return thereon. The contractor transfers the facility to the government agency or local government unit concerned at the end of the fixed term which shall not exceed fifty (50) years….”
“(b) Build-and-transfer scheme. – A contractual arrangement whereby the contractor undertakes the construction, including financing, of a given infrastructure facility, and its turnover after completion to the government agency or local government unit concerned which shall pay the contractor its total investment expended on the project, plus a reasonable rate of return thereon….”
RA 6957
Both of these schemes require a partnership between the government and the private sector for projects which historically are significantly impactful to the public.
In RA 6957 the public entities that are allowed to enter into contracts with a private contractor are government infrastructure agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government units.
Republic Act 7718 – PPP
RA 7718 amended RA 6957 by adding the following: 1. Increasing the type of PPPs, to wit:
“[e] Build-lease-and-transfer. – A contractual arrangement whereby a project proponent is authorized to finance and construct an infrastructure or development facility and upon its completion turns it
over to the government agency or local government unit concerned on a lease arrangement for a fixed period after which ownership of the facility is automatically transferred to the government agency or local government unit concerned.
“[f] Build-transfer-and-operate. – A contractual arrangement whereby the public sector contracts out the building of an infrastructure facility to a private entity such that the contractor builds the facility on a turn-key basis, assuming cost overrun, delay, and specified performance risks.
“Once the facility is commissioned satisfactorily, the title is transferred to the implementing agency. The private entity, however, operates the facility on behalf of the implementing agency under an agreement.
“[g] Contract-add-and-operate. – A contractual arrangement whereby the project proponent adds to an existing infrastructure facility that it is renting from the government. It operates the expanded project over an agreed franchise period. There may, or may not be, a transfer arrangement in regard to the facility.
RA 7718 amended RA 6957
- Allowing unsolicited proposals – one of the new provisions of RA 7718 is the allowance of unsolicited proposals by the private sectors to the government for projects on a negotiated basis. Provided, that the following conditions are met: a) such projects involve new concept or technology and/or are not part of the list of priority projects b) no direct government guarantee, subsidy, or equity is required, and c) the government agency or local government unit has invited by publication for three (3) consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation, comparative or competitive proposals and no other proposals is received for a period of sixty (60) working days.
- Investment Incentives – RA 7718 added a new provision in RA 6957 under Section 10 which states among other incentives, projects in excess of One billion pesos [1,000,000,000] shall be entitled to incentives as provided by the Omnibus Investments Code, upon registration with the Board of Investments.
