Council approves PPPP bill

THE City Council of Bacolod passed in the third and final reading of the ordinance establishing the Community Development Consortium for People-Public-Private Partnership (PPPP).

The ordinance stated the city of Bacolod was the only pilot city selected by the Partnership Democratic Local Governance in Southeast Asia (Delgosea) for transnational replication project of best practices selected from among five Southeast Asian countries intended to improve living conditions of disadvantage groups by helping increase their participation in local planning and decision making.

The City Government of Bacolod, as stated in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Delgosea in 2012, selected the best practice of Toul Sangke, Cambodia on People-Private-Public Partnership (PPPP) in improving local infrastructure to replicate in Bacolod.

The concept is viewed as a best practice model because of its impressive results such as people participation and support of stakeholders in social development, resulting in increased confidence of the community, to support government, among others, the ordinance said.

In order to sustain the gain from the replication project, the city recognizes the need to create a PPPP consortium operation of present and future infrastructures and services to the people, as well as achieve the objective of the PPP concept.

Councilor Em Ang authored the said ordinance while Councilor Caesar Distrito co-authored it.

The said ordinance is in line with the thrust of the National Government to maximize the involvement and participation of private sector and civil society in local affairs, Bacolod City also recognizes the importance of people participation and believes that great things can be done with the support of each and every member of society. (Carla N. Canet)