PH officials Beijing-bound to discuss China-supported infra projects

Manila, August 21 (Engineering Daily) --  Philippine and Chinese officials are set to meet in Beijing this week to continue discussions concerning the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects that China has committed to support through Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans and grants.

The Department of Finance (DOF), in a statement on Sunday, said the meetings on Aug. 22-24 will include updates on the progress of the projects for Chinese loan financing, such as the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project, and Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project.

“The High-Level Meetings will focus on strengthening and enhancing our bilateral engagement and cooperation. We express the hope that a number of bilateral documents would be presented and signed during the meeting, among them the exchange of letters for the feasibility study of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Inter-Island Bridges Project," the DOF statement read.

In April this year, Vietnamese and Chinese officials signed a USD62-million loan agreement in Hainan, China to help fund the construction of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project and a separate accord on economic and technical cooperation providing for a USD79-million grant for at least four other projects undertaken by the Philippine government in cooperation with China.