THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said more smart city projects are needed, citing the need to incorporate advanced technology in key infrastructure projects.
“There is a need for us to develop more digital infrastructure, smart city projects,” PPP Center Director for project development service Raphael M. Badillo said in an online briefing.
Smart City projects refer to the efficient management of infrastructure and public services like mobility, water, and energy.
The PPP Center website lists 18 information and communications technology projects valued at a combined P35.87 billion. The projects are currently in the pipeline or being implemented, the PPP Center said.
“Private sector expertise and efficiencies play a vital role in enabling smart city development since these smart cities heavily depend on technology and innovation,” Mr. Badillo said.
Projects include the P2.10-billion Bacolod Super City Project which was awarded to Highdata Infra Corp.
This project involves a centralized command center for traffic monitoring, natural disasters, criminal activity, emergency response and public alerts. The Bacolod Super City project also includes the installation of video surveillance equipment, deployment of analytics, and the development of comprehensive geographic information system software for the creation of maps, spatial analysis and data integration.
The smart city PPP projects also include the P3.29-billion smart urban mobility proposal of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) which is currently being negotiated.
MPTC’s unsolicited proposal for Baguio City involves the financing, design, procurement, construction, and installation of urban mobility solutions, including a congestion fee scheme; traffic enforcement system; parking management system and smart command center.
“The private sector can finance these critical infrastructure development projects to enable this smart city development. We encourage companies expressing interest in pursuing more digital infrastructure because a lot of local government units definitely need these innovations and technological advancements,” Mr. Badillo said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile