This case study presented by Beatriz Giraldo illustrated the experience of Colombia in regards to the private participation in sewerage and aqueducts. Mrs. Giraldo presented the institutional framework of Colombia and the overview of the sector and its current state, as well as the challenges that they had to overcome in the process.
Case study of Colombia - Alianza Público-Privada - Sector de Acueducto y Alcantarillado
Notas del a session de Beatriz Giraldo, Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Colombia
Buen ejemplo de decentralizacion para prestacion de servicios.
Marco legal 1930-1990s: en 1994 los municipios o administraciones locales pasan a ser prestadores
Superintendencia vigila la prestación efectiva de los servicios, impone multas y sanciones, hace evaluaciones del sector requiriendo información a través de Sistema Unico de Información para reportar toda la información comercial, financiera y administrativa de las empresas de servicios públicos
En Colombia existen organizaciones de tipo comunitario (usuarios)
Ley 142: principal cambio es que los municipios entregan la prestación a empresa de participación privada, pública o mixta. Régimenes tarifarios de solidaridad, la prestación no puede ser gratuita.
Participación privada: en 1994 se inician los primeros procesos PPP que tienen como actores principales al Ministerio de Vivienda. El BID apoyó el financiamiento para algunos de estos programas
Contratos PPP: contratos de operación (Hidropacífico). Contrato de operación con inversión donde el privado opera la prestación de servicios y ejecuta las inversiones fondéandose con las tarifas; esquemas societarios donde público y privado se unen para garantizar la prestación. Hay otros esquemas donde la estructura no daba para que participara un privado, en cuyo caso dichas actividades son financiadas por el Ministerio. Contratos comerciales para el tema de facturación, servicio al cliente, y actividades administrativas
1999-2010: 4.5 millones USD, 31% tarifas (checar slides). Avance en cobertura pero aún hay diferencias entre sector urbano y rural. Urbano 90% acueducto y 90% alcantarillado. En rural, la cobertura sigue siendo baja y hay soluciones individuales de abastecimiento.
Beneficios PPPs: mayor eficiencia en la prestación del servicio, formalización de empresas prestadoras, sistema sostenible, garantiza calidad del agua para consumo humano, continuidad, micromedición, construcción de infraestructura, fomento a la cultura de pago, apoyo en la planeación y estructuración de las obras.
Dificultades que se han presentado en distintos PPPs: No mirar las particularidades del mercado, que son distintas para cada municipio; falta de claridad en la determinación de responsabilidades; falta de definición del usufructo de la infraestructura (i.e. el pago del operador al municipio); metas que no se adecuaron a las condiciones del mercado; subsidios y tarifas ineficientes; desacuerdos políticos y de la comunidad en contra de estos procesos, lo que genera inconvenientes en la operación.
Perspectivas para que los PPPs sean efectivos (successful): los PPPs se generan como contratos de derecho privado, lo cual requere condiciones mínimas y responsabilidades en el contrato; se debe vincular al Ministerio de Vivienda, Ciudad, y Territorio; vincular a la comunidad para que forme parte de los proyectos. Para lidiar con algunos de estos asuntos en Colombia, en 2011 se expidió una ley para que los operadores privados generen propuestas, pero aún no se ha reglamentado.
Legal framework 1930-1990s: in 1994 the municipalities and local administrative bodies switch to becoming service providers.
Superintendency oversees the effective service delivery, sets fines and sanctions, evalutes the sector through information collected by the Unique System of Information, a centralized information repository that collects data on commercial, financial and administrative information of the service providers.
In Colombia there are also community-based service providers (by the users)
Law 142: main change is that the municipalities can offer the service through private sector providers or mixed (public-private) models. The law also offers a solidarity tarriff structure introducing the concept that service delivery cannot be free.
Private participation: in 1994 the first PPP programs begin through the Housing Ministry. The Inter-American Development Bank supported the financing of some of these programs.
PPP Contracts: operation contracts (Hidropacífico). Operation contract with investment provisions where the private entity operates service delivery and invests part of the tarriff proceed; the contractual arrangements provides for public-private partnerships to guarantee service delivery. There are other schemes where the structure does not allow for private participation and in those cases the Ministry steps into ensure service provision. The PPP contractual framework also provides for commercial contracts for billing, customer service and administrative activities.
1999-2010: 4.5 millones USD, 31% tarriffs. Advances in coverage but some differences remain between the urban and rural sector. Urban 90% of coverage in acqueducts and 90% in sewerage. In rural,, the coverage remains low and individual solutions must be put in place.
Benefits of PPPs: greater efficiency in service delivery, formalization of service providers; sustainable system; guarantees water quality for human consumption; continuity of service; micro-measurements; development of infrastructure; developmnet of thenotion that service delivery has costs and payment is necessary; support to the planning and structuring of works.
Challenges in various PPPs: specific circumstances in particular markets may not be taken into consideration, which may differe form municipality to municipality; lack of clarity in determination of responsibilities; lack of clarity in the payment by the operator to the municipality ofr use of the existing infrastructure; performance goals that are not realistic for a particular locale; inefficient subsidies and tariffs; political disagreements with the community and the operator.
Considerations for sucessful PPPs: PPPs are developed thorugh private contracts, which requires minimal conditions and risk allocation in the contracts; the Ministry of Housing must be engaged; also, community consultations and engagement may be necessary for the development of the projects. To address some of these issues in Colombia, a 2011 law was drafted that allows private operators to develop proposals but the law has not yet been developed through more specific regulations.
Beatriz Giraldo:
Mrs. Giraldo is finance specialist and business manager with 10 years of experience in the water supply and sewerage sectors and in the financial sector in Colombia. For the past six years, she has served in the Superintendency for Water Supply and Sewerage in the Government of Colombia, where she performs monitoring and control functions to ensure that public service companies comply with applicable policies, laws, and regulations, and improve their service delivery indicators. She also participates in the development of water supply and sewerage regulations, specifically with respect to the preparation and testing of tariff methodologies used by service providers.
