Ben’s mission is to guide and facilitate strategic capital into Philippine investment opportunities that will build a stronger industry and create numerous and sustainable jobs for his fellow Filipinos.

Ben Evangelista is a seasoned professional with a track record of accomplishments, illustrating his exceptional leadership and expertise in the fields of project origination and development, infrastructure Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transactions, and private equity deal sourcing and structuring. His achievements include:

• Securing the largest venture capital in Philippine history (USD 60+ Million)
• Co-leading the venture to a 9-digit USD valuation with a portfolio of over 400 telecom towers in 50 provinces
• Providing strategic advisory services to a diverse range of clients, including private and public-listed companies, local and national governments, domestic and global corporates and private equity funds, and multilateral institutions
• Founding LBS Digital Infrastructure Corp, Ben Evangelista & Partners, and the University of Sydney Infrastructure Club
• Being a recipient of the prestigious Australia Awards scholarship for his studies at The University of Sydney.
• Contributing his Public-Private Partnership (PPP / P3) expertise to Asian Development Bank’s publication: ADB Support for Public–Private Partnerships, 2009–2019

Ben’s comprehensive experience extends across flagship megaprojects with national significance in the Philippines and in diversified sectors, such as transportation, social infrastructure, real estate, telecommunication infrastructure, and defense, showcasing his adeptness in corporate finance, equity valuation, project finance, and business strategy

Commencing his career in equity capital markets, marketing, business strategy, and corporate finance for Philippine corporates, Ben soon transitioned to public service with the NEDA-Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines. As part of the PPP Center’s Project Development Service, he provided valuable PPP, commercial, financial, and risk management advisory services, as well as origination, structuring, and execution support for national and local government agencies.

Ben’s tenure as a project development and origination adviser for the Export-Import Bank of Korea’s Manila Representative Office and Asian Development Bank allowed him to originate sovereign debt instruments for infrastructure projects, originate, develop, and advise on flagship megaprojects, perform bid oversight, serve as government liaison, and facilitate the government approval process.

Capitalizing on his success in structuring, financing, and executing a project in the Philippine telecom tower sector, which secured equity financing worth USD 60+ million, Ben assumed a pivotal role as Chief Investment and Strategy and leading business development at LBS Digital Infrastructure which has allowed it to accumulate in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.

Ben holds a Master of Commerce (Finance, Infrastructure, and Transport Management) from The University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Business Management) from De La Salle University-Manila.

Ben supports local and micro-industries industry by investing in sustainable social enterprises. He is a member of the Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Australia Alumni Communities, Philippine KOICA Fellows Association, and Gospel Light Baptist Church.

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Some of the projects Ben has worked on throughout his career were:

Cavite-Laguna Expressway Tender 

(Project Cost: USD 787 Million)

The PPP project is a 4-lane, 47 kilometer expressway, which will connect the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The private sector partner investor will finance, design, and construct operate and maintain the entire 47 KM Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

Integrated Luzon Railway Project/ North-South Commuter Railway PPP Development

(Project Cost USD 1.9 Billion)

The Integrated Luzon Rail Project aims to upgrade and modernize the PNR railway system with the help of Private sector partner investors. The 400km+ proposed PPP project shall cover the existing railway corridor from San Fernando, La Union to Metro Manila and Metro Manila to Legaspi City, Albay, including spur lines from Tarlac to San Jose, Nueva Ecija and Calamba City, Laguna to Batangas. It will also cover potential extension lines from San Jose, Nueva Ecija to Cagayan in the north; as well as Legaspi City, Albay to Sorsogon in the south.

Motor Vehicle Inspection System Project PPP Development 

(Project Cost: USD 429 Million)

The proposed PPP project is aimed at ensuring road-worthiness and emission compliance of all motor vehicles registered in the country, thereby reducing road accidents and pollution. It entails the establishment of motor vehicle inspection centers (MVICs) throughout the Philippines with the help of the private sector, complete with equipment and software capable of inspecting current and future motor vehicle population in the country. The proposed project is expected to play a crucial part in ensuring that the projected rapid growth in the motor vehicle population of the Philippines is environmentally sustainable and also safe for the citizens. By 2035, the vehicle population is estimated to reach almost 35 million vehicles, an increase of more than 500% from 2005.

LTFRB Road Information Technology – Part II PPP Development

(USD 6 Million)

The PPP project aims upgrade the existing Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) including the computerization of its manual processes, the development, supply and operationalization of its network infrastructure (hardware) and database, and applications (software) with the help of a private sector partner and investor. The computerization efforts will help clean up existing data of the LTFRB, enhance data collection and processing. It is also envisioned to effect integration within the LTFRB and among related agencies. As a result, this will lessen the processing time for its transactions, promote and improve access to public information and provide channels for feedback.

New Cebu International Container Port government approval and appraisal

The New Cebu International Container Port aims to decongest and supplement the capacity of the existing Cebu Baseport. The container port that will be located in Consolacion will have total area of  25ha with annual cargo handling capacity of 375,900 TEUs. The quay will be equipped with 4 quay cranes and various other superstructures such as an operation building, gate, CFS, CIS, maintenance factory, substation, gas station, etc. will be arranged throughout the port area.

The wharf is planned to be composed of two berths for 2,000 TEU vessels. Total
length is 500 meters with planned water depth of (-)12 meters with future provisions for (-)14m depth. This will allow 4,000TEU vessels to dock along with a 1,000TEU
vessels at the same time.

Jalaur River Multipurpose River Project Stage 2 (USD 200 Mn) Bid oversight

The Project envisions the possible development of series of dam sites and an irrigation facility which is designed with provisions for a hydro-electric power plant and bulk water supply, both being considered for public private partnership (PPP) implementation. The Project aims to promote irrigation and agricultural productivity, and thereby boosting rural economic and social development in the province of Iloilo.

The Project includes the construction of a storage dam and appurtenant structures across the Jalaur River, consisting of high dam and reservoir, an afterbay dam, a catch dam, an 81-km highline canal, a penstock between the high dam and afterbay dam that is ready for a future hydro-electric power plant and connection from the highline canal to a raw water reservoir in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo for potential bulk water supply connection with the Metro Iloilo Water District.

The major functions of the Project is to provide year-round irrigation water supply to 22,340 hectares currently planted with rice and covered by the six existing national irrigation systems (Jalaur Proper & Extension, Suage, Aganan, Sta. Barbara and Sibalom) and 9,500 hectares presently rainfed areas (7,000 hectares palay and 2,500 hectares sugarcane), or a total of 31,840 hectares target irrigation service areas.

Other Projects

– Waste-to-Energy Project Finance Model – New South Wales, Australia

-Microgrid Financial Model – New South Wales, Australia

– Retirement Subdivision and Resort – Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

– New Dumaguete Airport Project Origination
– Panguil Bay Bridge Project documentation
– Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge assessment

– Road Transport Information Technology Phase II (USD 6 Mn)
– New Nayong Pilipino – Entertainment City (USD 37 Mn),
– Philippine Travel Center (USD 33 Mn)
– Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project (USD 422 Million)
– Regional Airport PPP (Davao, Iloilo, Laguindingan, Bacolod, Pangalo) 
– Manila Heritage Urban Renewal Project 
– Government Arsenal Defense Industrial Estate
– Navy Base Mactan