‘Trust is the new oil’: PwC Philippines’ Infra Summit urges predictability, institutional consistency to rebuild public confidence

With the theme, “Philippine Infrastructure in Transition: Integrity, Innovation, and Investment for a Resilient Philippines,” this year’s Infrastructure Summit featured presentations and panel discussions on key thematic areas, namely, strengthening governance and public trust in infrastructure, navigating new regulations and PPP frameworks, broadening the PPP horizon, and renewable energy and climate-aligned infrastructure.

Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines Chairman and Senior Partner Roderick Danao stressed that resilient physical and digital infrastructure is essential for inclusive economic growth.

“For the Philippines to achieve the sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty, we must move beyond a consumer-driven economy and build stronger manufacturing industries that cater to domestic and international markets. This requires attracting investors who need reliable, forward-looking infrastructure,” Danao said. “Our nation may not overcome socio-economic inequalities unless we reinvent ourselves into an industrial economy that stands on sustainable infrastructure and institutional trust, among others.”

Undersecretary Rizza Blanco-Latorre, Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPPC), vaunted that the country’s PPP Code, signed into law in 2023, is one of the most robust in Southeast Asia. The landmark law seeks to unify fragmented legal frameworks to streamline infrastructure projects.

“From development, approval, to implementation, the agreements are honored. We don’t want the risks to materialize. We want them to be identified at the onset so they can be addressed initially,” she expressed.

Latorre said that 287 projects amounting to PHP3.57 trillion are currently under implementation with 248 projects more, mostly from the transportation sector, in the pipeline. Key projects processed under the PPP Code include the operations and maintenance of the North-South Commuter Railway, which shall thread Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila all the way to Laguna, and several school infrastructure projects of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Undersecretary for e-Government David Almirol of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)—which executes the country’s masterplan for e-governance through the eGov data exchange platforms and eGov super app, among other initiatives—stressed the importance of collaboration and agility in creating a high-trust infrastructure environment.

“Trust cannot just be spoken about; it has to be felt. When citizens experience convenience and efficiency, that’s the awakening of trust,” Almirol expressed. “Trust is the new oil.”

Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) cited the importance of predictability in enabling frameworks and regulations for infrastructure projects.

“Predictability is key. For as long as the plan is clear and predictable, projects will flow,” Batan said. The railways chief said that the DOTr has been working on its catch-up pipeline in the last ten years, with 12 rail projects approved, one completed, and six for completion in the next few years.

Francis Roque, First Vice President and Head of Investments at Aboitiz InfraCapital, averred the same. “It’s important that we don’t keep changing the rules of the game. We shouldn’t reinvent the wheel and stray too far from the market-accepted mechanisms. These introduce predictability.”

Aside from predictability in project frameworks and systems, summit panelists also pointed to institutional consistency and clarity as gamechangers. UP Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi expressed that as plans shift from one administration to the next, efficient delivery of public service is impacted.

Social infrastructure

Government agency leaders highlighted the role of PPPs not just as funding tools, but as governance mechanisms that strengthen procurement integrity and enable the efficient scaling of public infrastructure projects. They noted that the PPP Code has broadened the scope of infrastructure to include development projects, opening up PPP as a procurement option.

DepEd Undersecretary for Strategic Management Ronald Mendoza revealed that they are exploring PPP for internet connectivity, textbooks, and even milk feeding. He noted that PPPs have a built-in transparency mechanism that requires public documentation, thus promoting a system of feedback and improvement.

“There is a level of integrity built in. In the rollout of PPPs, these tend to be more transparent versus conventional procurement because there’s an independent consultant involved, and the report they produce is a public document,” Mendoza explained. “For conventional procurement, it’s more difficult. By default, PPPs are better governed.”

Renewable energy infrastructure

PwC Australia’s Energy Transition Partner Lachy Haynes said that the Iran conflict is likely to trigger a long-term boost for clean energy, along with the global campaign for decarbonization, or the systemic reduction and elimination of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions from human activity through the transition to renewable energy.

“It’s worth evaluating different scenarios at this inflection point. We can keep exporting, start diversifying, or ramp up clean energy generation,” Haynes said.

He also noted that an active mergers and acquisitions market may enable capital recycling, citing how the growth and level of activity in Australia’s M&A market for renewable energy assets are reflective of investors’ greater understanding of the potential of this technology.

PPPC’s Project Development Service Director Atty. John Dominic Zafe noted the need for policy alignment especially in terms of tariff-setting, process refinements, and incentive-setting in relation to PPP projects.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol shared that the Department of Energy (DOE) is facilitating a special auction round in partnership with MMDA for waste-to-energy (WTE) projects. This initiative will source waste feedstock from Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities for conversion to energy, aligning with the government’s renewable energy targets of 35% in the energy mix by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

To expedite energy transition in the Philippines, experts point to case studies abroad, such as a technology-agnostic approach that allows more flexibility in adopting various advancements, as well as offshore energy production.

Philippine infrastructure in transition

Summit lead and PwC Philippines Deals and Corporate Finance Managing Partner Mary Jade Roxas-Divinagracia noted that the accelerating impact of climate change and technological disruptions, coupled with rising public expectations for transparency and accountability, are reshaping how physical, digital, and social infrastructure must be planned, delivered, and governed.

“What this critical juncture calls for is a renewed focus on how we design decision-making, manage risk, and sustain collaboration across sectors. Strong governance, predictable frameworks and timelines, and institutional consistency will be critical to ensuring infrastructure investments translate into long-term value for the country.”

Summit panelists included Anti-Red Tape Authority Deputy Director General for Operations Dr. Lea-Grace Salcedo, PPPC Deputy Executive Director Assistant Secretary Eleazar Ricote, PPPC Legal Services Director Atty. Lester Añonuevo, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. VP for Legal Atty. Ricardo Pilares III, and Triconti ECC Renewables Head of Offshore Wind Bjorn Rosenberger.