SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Regional Development Council in Ilocos (RDC-1) has created the Regional Public-Private Partnership Committee (RPPPC) to attract more investments and spur development in the region.
The RPPPC was established through RDC-1 Resolution No. 42, series of 2025, which was approved during the council’s first quarter meeting held recently at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
Under the resolution, the RPPPC will assist public institutions and local government units (LGUs) in La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur in managing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
PPP projects involve collaboration between government agencies and private companies to finance and build key infrastructure such as water systems, hospitals, and roads.
According to the resolution, the RPPPC will lead the review and endorsement of local PPP proposals, especially those aligned with national and sectoral development goals.
“The RPPPC shall be responsible for the endorsement of local PPP projects requiring government undertakings and/or availability payments using national government funds,” the resolution stated.
The committee is also tasked with conducting financial and technical evaluations of local PPP projects.
The RPPPC shall be led by the RDC 1 Full Council Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, with members including the chairpersons of the sectoral committees on social development (Department of Education), infrastructure (Department of Public Works and Highways), economic development (Department of Agriculture), environment and natural resources (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), and governance (Department of the Interior and Local Government).
What this means
With the creation of the RPPPC, approval processes for critical projects are expected to accelerate, making the region more attractive to private investors.
Faster implementation of development projects is also seen to boost local economies, create jobs, and improve public services.
For instance, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the PPP Center of the Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in February to position the province as a regional economic hub in Southeast Asia.
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) said the MOA strengthens public-private collaboration to accelerate growth.
“By leveraging the strengths of both the public and private sectors, we can mobilize resources, enhance efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability in our development efforts,” Balisacan said.
He also cited Republic Act No. 11966, or the PPP Code of the Philippines, which highlights the role of PPPs in accelerating economic progress.
“I hope the activities outlined in the MOA and the lineup of proposed projects by the provincial government inspire other local government units and implementing agencies to explore PPPs as a means for rapid and sustainable economic transformation,” he added.
John Hobert Molina, a bus conductor from Santa, Ilocos Sur, who regularly travels the Laoag City, Ilocos Norte–Sampaloc, Manila route, said that PPP projects like roads help make travel to and from the Ilocos Region easier.
“Dagiti proyekto ti PPP a kas iti Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) ket nagsayaat gapu ta pabassitenda ti oras ti panagbiahe, a mangipalubos kadakami a mangiyeg kadagiti pasahero kadagiti destinasionda a naparpartak,” he said.
(PPP projects like the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) are great because they reduce travel time, allowing us to bring passengers to their destinations more quickly.)
Regional PPPs
One existing PPP project is the San Fernando City Septage Management Project, a partnership between the Metro San Fernando Water District-La Union and a private company aimed at protecting the environment through proper wastewater management.
“The general objective of the project is primarily to attain the highest possible level of water supply service for, as far as feasibly possible, 100 percent of water consumers within the coverage of the joint venture area, and to provide cost-effective Septage Management Service,” according to the PPP Center’s website.
Another major initiative in development is the Tri-City Ferry System, a proposed joint venture among the city governments of Alaminos and Dagupan in Pangasinan and San Fernando in La Union.
With a projected cost of P4.87 billion, the project aims to ease city traffic, save travel time, and boost tourism across the three cities.
As of the latest data, PPP projects in the Ilocos Region that are in various stages of development are valued at P782.74 billion, with major allocations in the railway sector (P497.27 billion), energy (P121.27 billion), and education (P78.03 billion). (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
