QUEZON CITY CODE PURSUING A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) APPROACH TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING FOR THE PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROPONENT, ADOPTING A CONTRACT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK, AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Background:

Public-Private Partnership is a priority program of the current administration, and was identified as one of the four pillars to effect change in the Philippine Economy. In the same vein, the City recognizes the vital role of the private sector to promote and provide more, better, affordable and timely services to the community. However, a study by the Asian Development Bank identified four gaps in Philippine PPP. One of these gaps is the inadequacy of the existing policy, legal and regulatory framework on PPP.

Recognizing the need and importance of a policy to effect PPP, the Office of the Vice Mayor invited Atty. Alberto C. Agra, a Certified PPP Specialist and Regulation Specialist last 30 June 2014 at the Carlos Albert Hall (Session Hall), whereby, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte together with the Officers and majority of the members of the 19th City Council discussed the appropriate PPP Code for Quezon City. Driven with his utmost desire to help and contribute something, Atty. Agra shared his expertise and helped the City Council craft the first Quezon City PPP Code.

Consistent with the policy to advance the public good and general welfare, and promote the interest of the community and the City government within the framework of sustainable and integrated development, and effective constructive engagement and meaningful people’s participation in local governance, Quezon City pursued PPP in furtherance of its goals as contained in its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), The Revised Quezon City Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Series 2013), Tourism Development Plan (TDP), and all other development planning documents of the City Government.

The Quezon City PPP Code, shall serve as an essential part of the overall infrastructure reform policy of the City. By encouraging performance-based management of the delivery of public services applying commercial principles and incentives whenever possible, by introducing competition in and for the market, and by involving users and stakeholders in the decision-making process, infrastructure and regulatory reform shall be achieved.
Further, under the principle of “Additionality,” the increased economic benefits to consumer welfare of having needed public services and infrastructure accessible now because of the PPP, rather than having to wait until the City could provide the public services much later. PPP would also encourage the accelerated implementation of local projects.

Legislative Track:

PO 19CC-320 (“Quezon City PPP Code “) was included in the agenda for First Reading on 30 June 2014 during the 29th Regular Session and the same was referred to the Committees on Trade Commerce and Industry; Ways and Means; and Laws, Rules and Internal Government.
Few days thereafter or on 03 July 2014, the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry approved the PPP Code; while the Committee on Ways and Means recommended approval of the same on 15 July 2014. Two weeks after, the Committee on Laws, Rules and Internal Government approved the said PPP Code on 30 July 2014.
On 04 August 2014, 33rd Regular Session, the Quezon City PPP Code passed on Second Reading and duly confirmed on Third and Final reading on 11 August 2014, during the 34th Regular Session of the City Council.