Build-operate-transfer (BOT) schemes – or, as the past administrations have called it, public-private partnerships (PPPs) – have increasingly gained traction among local government units here in Laguna province.
Not only BOT schemes help LGUs carry out vital infrastructure projects at minimal costs, it’s also ideal for enticing more investment that could translate to more employment and livelihood for locals.
But as we’ve seen in some BOT projects, there’s a real danger that these private corporations might let their search for profits outweigh their sense of public duty.
Take, for instance, the continuing grievances of vendors in San Pedro City, Laguna who have decried alleged acts of harassment against them by the operators of the city’s public market.
Last year, as this newsmagazine had earlier reported, vendors in this city have called on the local government to take over operations of the public market from the private operator that it had contracted to renovate and operate it under a BOT scheme since the early 2000’s.
Not only has the operators allegedly defied local ordinances, even court orders, rescinding “exorbitant” rental fees to its vendors, it has also reportedly “locked out” leaders of an association formed by the vendors to air their grievances to the local government.
Such acts could (and should) impel the LGU to exercise its power to take over control of such public utilities to ensure that vendors and consumers alike will not be held hostage by high costs of goods caused by unfair rentals.
While it’s true that private operators can challenge the legality of a possible takeover in court, isn’t it also the legal and moral duty of local governments to uphold and safeguard the welfare of their constituents above everything else?
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