Forum on Service Contracting Program Held at UA&P

The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), hosted the 2nd Forum on Service Contracting for Efficient and Equitable Public Transport Systems on November 20, 2024. This initiative was supported by a research grant from the Center for Research and Communications Foundation, Inc. (CRCFI).

The forum is part of the ongoing CRCFI-funded research project titled Institutionalization of Service Contracting in Local Government Units. The study is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team: Dr. Nicomedes Alviar and Mr. Garry Perez (SLG), Dr. George Manzano, Ms. Jacqueline Mirabueno, and Mr. Paul Argamosa (SEC), as well as Dr. Enrique Ligot and Dr. Varsolo Sunio (SSE/SEMRI).

The event brought together approximately 80 participants, including representatives from 25 transport service entities, 3 financial institutions, 8 local government units, 1 national government agency, and 2 civil society organizations.

The forum was divided into two sessions:

• Session 1 focused on the experiences, best practices, and challenges associated with the service              contracting program, particularly in collaboration with local government units.

Speakers included:
○ Mr. Leonard Bautista, Chairperson of PAGUNOVA Transport and Multipurpose Service                   Cooperative
○ Mr. Ralfhee Blake Barrios, Director of Policies, Plans, and Partnerships at ULAP
○ Mr. Kiboy Sagrado Tabada, Acting Project Manager of the Davao Public Transport
Modernization Project (DPTMP), DoTr
○ Ms. Tere Rose L. Lumawig, Project Manager of the Service Contracting Program, DoTr

• Session 2 explored the potential effects of service contracting on the implementation of
  the Public Transport Modernization Program.

Speakers included:
○ Ms. Grace D. Castro, Vice President of the Lending Group, Bank of Florida
○ Ms. Sharon Gerola-Fong, Chief Commercial Officer, AF Payments Inc. (AFPI)
○ Mr. Misael Melinas, Chairperson of JUAN Transport Services Cooperative
○ Mr. Renzo R. Del Rosario, OIC-Program Manager of the Public Transport Modernization Program
(PTMP), DoTr

During the forum, Ms. Jacqueline Mirabueno shared preliminary findings of the research, which aims to explore and assess strategies for institutionalizing service contracting at the local government level.

The afternoon breakout session divided participants into seven groups to discuss and present their perspectives on the proposed institutionalization strategies.

For more details about the forum, including access to presentation materials, please visit the official website of the  Service Contracting Forum.

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