N. Samar board members enact first PPP Code in Philippines

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – The Provincial Board of Northern Samar enacted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code that will serve as legal basis of the Provincial Government to venture into PPP projects.

Governor Paul Daza said the passage of the code is timely as the province has engaged in a PPP in health (PPPH) for Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) pharmacy.

The PPP Code aims to promote the general interest and welfare of the community within the framework of sustainable and integrated development, and provides efficient, affordable, and timely services to its constituents.

The contract signing of the PPPH for NSPH pharmacy has been forged recently between the Provincial Government of Northern Samar and the Planet Drugstore through its president, Erwin Zshornack, during the Governors’ Forum in Palo, Leyte.

The PPP Code also includes the requirements and processes to translate the PPP projects. Apart from the usual build-operate-and-transfer (BOT), it authorizes Governor Daza through the Provincial Board, to enter into other modalities such as joint venture, management contract, and services contract, which provide for PPP for social services.

Among the salient features of the code are the creation of PPP selection committee, which is in charged with the selection of a private sector partner, and PPP Regulatory Authority that performs contract management functions.

The PPP Code was sponsored by Board Member Albert Lucero, majority floor leader of the Provincial Board of Northern Samar, and was unanimously approved by the body. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)