About the Author

Atty. Alberto “Al” C. Agra is an authority on administrative, local government, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) laws. He has been teacher and advocate of the local government law for 32 years and serves as a bar reviewer on the subject. He is the principal author of Amicus Imperiorum Locorum. He is also a professor and bar reviewer on administrative law. Agra is a Certified PPP Specialist™ and a PPP law professor. Since 2011, he has conducted hundreds of seminars on published dozens of infographics on PPP and crafted a template ordinance for arrangements not covered under the PPP Code. He also launched PPP guide for local governments, titled Casa Agra. Recrafted.

Latest from the Author

4 days ago

INSIDER VIEW | The six Cs of P4

By: Alberto Agra

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are not a panacea. They are not automatic, “no-brainer,” one-size-fits-all solutions to every infrastructure or service gap. But when properly structured, they can be powerful tools for delivering projects that genuinely serve the public good.

7 days ago

INSIDER VIEW | The ‘silent partners’: From lender to operator

By: Alberto Agra

A unique feature of PPP financing is the concept of step-in rights. Loan agreements typically grant lenders the right to “step in” and take corrective measures if the private partner defaults.

26 Feb 2026

5:19PM

INSIDER VIEW | The ‘silent partners’ in PPPs

By: Alberto Agra

Behind every successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) stands an often unseen but indispensable force: the bank.

14 Feb 2026

9:55AM

INSIDER VIEW | PPPs: Built against ghost, substandard projects

By: Alberto Agra

When properly structured, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are among the project modalities least likely to result in ghost or substandard outcomes.

4 Feb 2026

11:19AM

INSIDER VIEW | How project bundling strengthens PPP outcomes

By: Alberto Agra

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are fundamentally about value creation for government, for private proponents, and most importantly, for the public. One of the most effective yet underutilized strategies in PPP structuring is project bundling or multi-purpose projects: combining multiple components, services, or assets into a single integrated project and contract.

21 Jan 2026

4:51AM

INSIDER VIEW | When gov’t may walk away from unsolicited PPP proposals

By: Alberto Agra

Unsolicited proposals (USPs) are a legitimate but carefully circumscribed feature of the Philippine Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

12 Jan 2026

11:37AM

INSIDER VIEW | PPPs for and with the people, in practice

By: Alberto Agra

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are often associated with large corporations, big-ticket infrastructure, and complex financing structures. However, under Philippine law, PPPs are not reserved exclusively for large private corporations.

5 Jan 2026

10:45AM

INSIDER VIEW | Beyond contracts: Five virtues to guide PPPs

By: Alberto Agra

As 2026 begins, public-private partnerships (PPPs) stand at a critical juncture. In many jurisdictions, including the Philippines, PPPs are no longer evaluated solely by the kilometers of roads built, classrooms delivered, or facilities constructed.

22 Dec 2025

12:06PM

INSIDER VIEW | PPPs unlock development potential of reclaimed land

By: Alberto Agra

Reclaimed land has emerged as one of the Philippines’ most strategic platforms for growth, urban expansion, and climate-resilient development, with public-private partnerships (PPPs) playing a central role in unlocking its full potential.