MindaNews » Davao councilors defer vote on proposed PPP ordinance.

By Lorie Ann Cascaro
August 13, 2012

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/12 August) –  The city council deferred Thursday the voting on the public-private partnership (PPP) ordinance after majority of its members urged for another public hearing on the proposed measure on August 22.

Presiding officer Councilor Melchor Quitain said this will be the last public hearing as a compromise to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Southern Mindanao, which claimed that most residents are still unaware of the proposed ordinance.

Councilor Jimmy Dureza, proponent of the ordinance, pointed out that the public is being informed on committee hearings by posting notices on bulletin boards at the city council building, but said he is willing to give Bayan a chance.

The city council invited Bayan SMR secretary general Sheena Duazo to explain the group’s opposition after it submitted its position paper to the city council last Tuesday.

Duazo said PPP will “legitimize privatization and will likely make the city government wallow more on debts, while Dabawenyos carry the burden of privatized services.”

“Bayan wants to elevate the discussion of this policy proposal into a public discourse or debate since the public will be affected and impacted by this policy,” she said.

Saying he fully understands Bayan’s stand, Dureza assured the ordinance would not lead to privatization of public services as the local government unit reserves the right to retain ownership of future PPP projects.

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