As we approach the 2016 presidential election, the urge for the present Aquino administration to speed up the auction of public-private partnership (PPP) projects is understandable.
Considering our experience with several earlier contracts like those on the Piatco-Naia Terminal 3, the Smokey Mountain-Harbor City, the Levin-MRT 3, and the NorthRail, caution is suggested lest the user-public and/or government have to bear again unnecessary “burdens” attached to what could be faulty-due-to-haste PPP contracts.
The public clamor for vital infrastructure the economy needs since “yesterday” is fully justified, and starting their construction or implementation early may mollify the citizenry.
However, a thoroughly, competently planned, engineered and executed program would ensure quality infrastructure, orderly and efficient execution, and the optimization of cost and time that can offset the illusory advantage of earlier starts. The controversies and the adverse time-and-cost implications that attended government projects in the recent past may then be minimized—if not avoided.
—ALFREDO V. ASUNCION, avasuncion@hotmail.com