P2.5-B gov’t hub to rise in Calabarzon

SAN PEDRO, Laguna—A Malaysian-based infrastructure development company invested P2.5 billion in what would be the first regional government center under a public-private partnership (PPP) project with the Philippine government.

Dubbed a one-stop-shop government hub, the facility will house at least 50 regional offices in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon)  in one location—inspired by Malaysia’s Putrajaya, a federal administrative center constructed outside its capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia’s AlloyMTD Group (MTD), which became known in the toll-road business, is expanding its business in the country by reinvesting in government facility construction, mining  and energy projects.

Presence

“We want to maintain our presence in the Philippines so we thought of creating [more] projects that would cater to what the Philippines needs,” said Isaac David, president of MTD Philippines, which also used to operate the South Luzon Expressway prior to its sale last year to the now-diversified food giant San Miguel Corp.

David said four five-story buildings, complete with modern facilities, comprise the government center situated on the 3-hectare property owned by the city government of Calamba in Laguna province.

The company targets to complete the building construction in phases over three years and turn it over to the government under the build-lease-transfer scheme in 30 years.

“It’s about time our government employees work in private, corporate offices in order to make the discharge of public service more efficient,”  David added.

Replica

The company expressed its interest in replicating the project in other regions.

[Government agencies] have been renting office buildings since time immemorial. We want to change that. Imagine, [the government]  spending P16 billion a year [for space rental alone],” he said.

The company targets constructing a government center, for instance, in Mindanao, which David believed would aid the peace process following the signing of a framework agreement for the creation of the Bangsamoro.

A modern  regional government facility in Mindanao, he said, “will show that the government means business in giving them the services they need.”

“It will no longer be the ‘imperial Manila,’” he said.