Butuan regional development, The Philippines

Challenge:

The City flourished when it exported timber but this also resulted in rapid deforestation. The City`s economy shrunk after the country banned logging and prawning which resulted in there being no other source of income to sustain the inhabitants of the Butuan community.
Solution:

The Government decided to reboot the City`s economy by launching multi-PPP Projects around Butuan. The Cooperation of the Academy of Toyo University and 3 local universities and the development of the PPP Code of Butuan City contributed to each PPP project. Among key PPP projects are the Asiga River Small Hydro Power Project on 8 MW which was built by the project company Asiga Green Energy Corporation on a two-step loan provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and generation equipment of Voith Fuji Hydro. Another impressive project is the Rice Farming Project which doubled the average yield by using soil/water improvement products provided by a Japanese company. Such rich harvests promoted the construction of low-carbon milling factories.
SDG Impact:

SDG 1: Reducing poverty through significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources has been achieved and ongoing PPP projects are about to eradicate poverty in all dimensions

SDG 2: Zero hunger and food security has been achieved by the cultivation of rice with the right technology which has doubled the crop

SDG 7: Affordable, reliable and clean energy is to be facilitated by the Asiga River Power Plant and other power plants that are to be operational in the near future

SDG 8: Economic growth was achieved through industry`s massive upgrading, such as the construction of the Asiga River Power Plant which created 300 jobs

SDG 13: Resilience and adaptive capacity have been strengthened by the introduction of sustainable consumption  

SDG 14: Deforestation and overfishing were overcome by conservation measures and changing the focus of the economy  
Compliance with UNECE People-first PPP criteria:

The Project:

  • Increased access to affordable and clean energy
  • Promoted equity, social cohesion and justice
  • Protected the environment by using sustainable methods of agriculture
  • Multiplied Economic effectiveness that impacts human well-being

 

This case study aspires to be People-first Public-Private Partnerships project and is published as received from the proponents.