Philippines, China cite need to prioritize 8 projects for speedy implementation

October 2, 2017

BEIJING—Philippine and Chinese officials cited Wednesday efforts by two countries to further streamline and expedite the approval process on the first “basket” of infrastructure projects, which initially prioritizes eight “cooperation” initiatives Manila will be implementing with Beijing, a statement from the Department of Finance said Monday.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who led the Philippines’ economic managers in a meeting with Chinese Commerce Ministry officials here, reported on "additional progress” in the bilateral dialogue mechanisms and the cooperation initiatives under a first basket of projects the Philippines has presented for Chinese financing.

Dominguez told Chinese officials, led by Commerce Minister Zhong Shang, the Philippine government was looking forward to the visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Manila for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in November as this “will further strengthen our bilateral relationship and capability to work together for mutual beneficial cooperation.”

“We recognize and appreciate the continuing engagement between our governments to speed up the preparations of the big-ticket infrastructure projects. Both governments are exerting efforts to streamline and expedite the approval process for the flagship projects,” Dominguez said at the meeting.

With Dominguez were Secretaries Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Dominguez said the “substantial progress of the bilateral relations (between the two countries) is demonstrated in [their] joint pursuit of achieving a ‘favorable and enabling environment’ ” to ensure the “faster and timely” approval and completion of the projects.

In the meeting, Zhong concurred with Dominguez on “moving faster for the continuous progress for the ongoing projects” and cited the need to tap additional financing sources for these, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as the Silk Road Fund, a $40-billion financing platform owned by the Chinese government that aims to provide investment support under the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Its chairman, Ji Qi, describes the Silk Road Fund as a “commercial investment organization” in which investments “follows commercial principles and international rules.”

Zhong also stressed at the meeting the need to prioritize eight projects under the first basket so that substantial progress would have already been made by the time Premier Li visits Manila in November.

These projects are the Binondo-Intramuros bridge and the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge in Manila funded by Chinese grants; the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Cagayan and Kalinga provinces and the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project; two drug rehabilitation facilities; the Elevated Expressway in Davao City and the construction of an industrial park, Zhong said.

Led by Zhong, the other Chinese officials at the meeting were Yu Jianhua, Vice Minister of Commerce; Wu Zhengping, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs; Ren Hongbin, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade; Wang Shengwen, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Assistance; Zhou Liujun, Director-General of the Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation; Ma Jianchun, Director-General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs; Zhong Jie, Division Chief from the Department of Asian Affairs; and Xiong Yan Division Chief from the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs.

Zhong also mentioned four additional projects that China has committed to the Philippines.

These are the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges; the reconstruction of conflict-hit Marawi City, for which China has  provided a 20-million renminbi ($3 million) donation in kind; the provisions under the enforcement and security cooperation agreement between the two countries; and China’s assistance in the construction of an agriculture technical center in the Philippines.

Zhong also expressed the hope that two sides could “reach a consensus on the working level” on the second “basket” of infrastructure projects presented by the Philippines for possible Chinese financing, so that the memoranda of understanding could be finalized on these before their leaders visits Manila next year.

“We hope that continuous progress can be made on our priority projects so that we can reach the consensus of our two Presidents and we can press ahead with our economic cooperation and trade,” Zhong said during the meeting.

In the meeting, Dominguez also informed Chinese Ministry officials of the progress of the key projects in the first and second basket that both sides have agreed on.

Dominguez also agreed with Zhong’s suggestion to tap multilateral institutions such as the AIIB and ADB as well as China’s Silk Road Fund to co-finance the Philippines’ infra projects. DMS