Professional Background

Atty. Manaligod’s area of practice and expertise is in Business Law, particularly in transactions involving public and private partnerships or joint ventures to undertake infrastructure or developmental projects.

He formerly occupied a senior position (Director IV) in the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel in the Office of the President of the Philippines (from 1992 to 1996) and in such capacity reviewed and/or negotiated several public-private-partnership contracts (including the 22 kilometer mass rail transport system along EDSA and some power projects). He also advised on policy and other Presidential issuances covering telecommunications, transportation, toll roads, water, and other infrastructure issues and projects. He was a key legal resource person to the Interagency Technical Committees which prepared and drafted the Implementing Rules and Regulations of: (a) the Build Operate and Transfer Law (now the “PPP Code”); and (b) the Water Crisis Act.

In private practice (beginning 1997), Atty. Manaligod continued to be involved in various projects. He has: acted as counsel to a foreign company in relation to its proposed bulk water supply/dam project for Cebu; assisted a toll road corporation in obtaining the requisite consents and approvals from government to achieve financial closing for its express toll way project; helped establish the local subsidiary of and is currently counsel to a foreign engineering company that implemented the electromechanical works for a MRT extension; acted as counsel to a telecommunications company, a shipping and port operator, and some water utility enterprises; assisted private proponents in regard to the procurement procedures for government projects; acted as legal advisor to the original proponents of the MRT Line 7 Project (a 22 kilometer MRT project, the contract for which was signed with government in 2008 and was estimated to then cost some USD 1.2 billion); and is presently helping proponents develop and structure several projects including, among others, two (2) new metro rail transportation projects in Metro Manila, an inter-island cable car system, and an online knowledge and training management and information system/solution.

Atty. Manaligod likewise acted as legal consultant to a World Bank funded study on Financing Policies and Various Regulatory Issues in the Water Sector, has assisted in relation to its Asian Development Bank Study on Debt and Risk Management, and has also helped a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Study Group in its report on PPP Institutional Building in the Philippines. He has, more recently, acted as legal advisor to foreign consulting companies engaged by the Public and Private Partnership Center of the Philippines and other government agencies, and continues as a consultant to the Asian Development Bank.

Atty. Manaligod earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1991, and his Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1997 where he graduated with merit.

Awards