DOH Launches First Private-Public Partnership Project with UP, International Finance Corporation, Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, and Temasek Foundation

The Technical Cooperation on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Universal Health Care (UHC) will provide a platform for leaders and specialists from Philippines and Singapore to share knowledge and experience in public-private partnerships with a focus on the health care sector.

The Department of Health (DOH), University of the Philippines, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and Temasek Foundation (TF) are collaborating, for the first time, in a program on public-private partnerships (PPP) with a special focus on the health care sector. The program is supported by TF through a grant of SGD 585,282, with cofunding support from the Philippine government and IFC.

The programme officially kicked off today with a dialogue about health care in the Philippines where more than 100 health care leaders and specialists discussed various health care challenges with representatives from the Philippines, Singapore, and IFC.

To mark the occasion, a simple signing ceremony was held among the participating organizations: Undersecretary of Health Dr. Lilibeth C. David, Executive Vice-President of the University of the Philippines Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, SCE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kong Wy Mun, and IFC Country Manager for the Philippines, Ms. Yuan Xu.

“Public-Private Partnerships will play a vital role in moving forward with the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act,”

Health Undersecretary Dr. Lilibeth C. David declared, adding that the DOH has already built a pipeline of seven solicited PPP proposals for health, all of which are being intensively reviewed for their social impact, sustainability, and alignment to the objectives of UHC and other national policies. The ceremony was also witnessed by Deputy Chief of Mission and Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Manila Ms. Zhou Suli, Senior Investment Officer of the International Finance Corporation Ms. Lulu Baclagon, and Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation International Mr. Benedict Cheong.

“UHC provides more opportunities for further private sector collaboration, and I would like to challenge them to come up with innovative strategies that will provide safe, quality, cost-efficient, innovative, and competitive healthcare services for all Filipinos,”

Health Undersecretary Dr. Lilibeth C. David said.

With the signing of the Universal Health Care Law in February 2019, funding for health care coverage takes on even greater significance. PPPs, with its emphasis on cost and risk sharing between the public and private sectors, is one of the viable models that is being considered by the DOH.

Reaching out to about 100 leaders and representatives of the Philippine health sector, this program will create a platform for both the Philippines and Singapore to share experience and knowledge on PPPs, particularly on projects related to the health care sector. This will be done through a series of workshops and sharing sessions in both Manila and Singapore, allowing for more interaction opportunities for both countries.

Beyond the bilateral sharing, IFC, with its rich experience of having assisted in the structuring of more than 300 PPP projects across the globe, will be able to share international best practices and provide important case-studies.

A set of sample PPP transaction documents, such as bid documents and concession agreements, will also be jointly developed by the stakeholders of the programme which will serve as a reference for future PPP projects. Mr. Kong Wy Mun, Chief Executive Officer of SCE said,

“The Philippine PPP programme has been recognised to be one of the more progressive ones in Asia. Philippines is also one of the first countries in Asia to establish a PPP framework. With the Philippines having embarked on numerous PPP projects, there is indeed a lot for all parties to learn from each other. Singapore Cooperation Enterprise is privileged to be the programme manager for this engagement where we, together with the support of Temasek Foundation and the International Finance Corporation, will aggregate the relevant expertise and resources required to implement the series of workshops in partnership with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.”

“Access to affordable, quality healthcare is important to the long-term sustainable development of the Philippines. This partnership aligns with IFC’s commitment to expand access to health services in the country,”

said Ms. Yuan Xu, IFC Country Manager for the Philippines. She added,

“Well-structured public private partnerships are one tool available to help close the gap in health care, and this program would help build the capacity of the health sector in this area.”

Following today’s seminar, a two-day workshop on PPP will be held where PPP practitioners from the Philippines, Singapore and IFC will share on the process of PPP project development and preparation. In this way, participants will not only be able to see PPP concepts and processes being applied in reallife, they will also be able to track the negotiations as it progresses, which will further enrich their learning experience.

Mr. Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive, TF International, said,

“As Philippines and Singapore commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Foundation is honoured to be partnering the Philippine Department of Health once again. We hope this programme will allow leaders and officials from both countries to share experiences and insights in the area of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and in the process, enhance existing networks of cooperation and friendship. We would also like to thank the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for working with us for the first time. IFC’s robust experience in the area of PPPs will provide participants with valuable insights and perspectives, making the programme more meaningful and relevant for all parties involved.”

About Temasek Foundation
Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and advance communities in
Singapore and beyond. These are made possible through non-profit philanthropic endowments, gifted by Temasek and managed by the Temasek Foundation under its respective mandates.

For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.

About Singapore Cooperation Enterprise
Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) is an agency formed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore in May 2006 to respond effectively to the multitude of foreign requests to tap on Singapore’s development experience. SCE works closely with Singapore’s 16 ministries and over 60
statutory boards to tailor possible solutions to match the foreign parties’ needs. SCE also serves as the focal point of access to expertise across these public agencies.
SCE’s primary mission is to lead in public sector collaboration projects with foreign governments so as to build
long-term partnerships with foreign parties and offer opportunities for Singapore’s private sector. SCE is currently an integrated arm of Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore government agency championing enterprise development and supporting the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups.

For more information, visit www.sce.org.sg.

About International Finance Corporation
International Finance Corporation — a sister organization of the World Bank and a member of the World Bank
Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We
work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets
and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In fiscal year 2018, we delivered more than $23 billion in
long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.

For more information, please www.ifc.org.