Batangas is stepping up PPP infrastructure initiatives.

MANILA, Philippines — The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center and the Batangas Provincial Government are working together to build infrastructure projects in the province. The PPP Center and the Batangas provincial government recently signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their collaboration in advancing and implementing infrastructure and development projects in the province using PPP. The agreement details the technical help that the Center will provide to Batangas PPP initiatives. The Township and Livelihood Cluster Development Project is one of the identified PPP initiatives, with the goal of providing post-disaster shelter, resettlement, and inclusive development of Batangueos' living conditions. Another project is the Batangas Regional Food Terminal Port Project, which is a sub-component of the projected Regional Food Terminal and will increase food production, trade, and processing. It also aspires to offer income to farmers, fishermen, and livestock raisers throughout the province and region. Both projects aim to hasten Batangas' recovery from the Taal Volcano explosion in January 2020, as well as the epidemic that followed. The PPP Center seeks to support local implementing agencies, particularly LGUs, in delivering local PPP projects as part of its local PPP strategy. This will aid in the decentralization of Metro Manila by creating more job possibilities through the construction of extra infrastructure and development facilities in various regions. The proposal is also in line with the full devolution of certain executive branch powers to local governments. As a result of devolved powers and responsibilities from the national government, LGUs will have greater fiscal independence and larger development funding to conduct infrastructure and development projects. According to the Center, PPPs may be one of the possibilities that LGUs explore in light of the larger funding that they will be getting.