Philippines, China sign 6 deals at high-level meeting in Manila

Ralf Rivas

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Philippines, China sign 6 deals at high-level meeting in Manila
(UPDATED) The Panay-Guimaras bridge, Davao City Expressway, and Marawi sports complex are among the projects that have gained traction following the meeting between Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippines and China signed 6 deals during a high-level meeting held at the Bureau of Treasury in Intramuros, Manila, on Thursday, October 24.

The Philippine delegation was led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, while the China was represented by Vice Premier Hu Chunhua. 

Philippine and Chinese officials signed 3 documents related to infrastructure. These were signed by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen. These are:

Handover certificate of the feasibility study of the Panay-Guimaras bridge. CCC Highway Consultants conducted the  feasibility study from November 2018 to October 2019. The next step is for the grant financing of the project by China.

According to the list of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the project is estimated to cost P27.16 billion. 

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that the final cost of the project has yet to be determined and will have to hurdle the scrutiny of the NEDA board.

Villar said that both parties aim to come to an agreement by the end of the year and hopefully start construction in 2020.

Handover certificate of the feasibility study of the Davao City Expressway project. CCC highway consultants conducted the feasibility from November 2018 to October 2019. This will be followed by discussions on the financing of the project.

Villar said that the final cost has yet to be determined, but NEDA previously estimated it at P25.63 billion.

Exchange of letters for the Marawi sports complex and central market project.  

The project, consisting of two components, has a total floor area of about 13,202 square meters. The 6,504 sqm-Sports Complex is located in the northeastern outer suburbs of Marawi City and can hold up to 1,000 people.

The 7,148-sqm.-Central Market is located in the eastern part of Marawi and will include  a functional area and  equipment rooms.

According to the latest statement of Task Force Bangon Marawi, the central market project is estimated to cost over P400 million.

The two countries signed 3 more documents. These are: 

  • China’s donation of container testing equipment for the Bureau of Customs, consisting of 4 sets of mobile containers and 2 sets of CT scan inspection system
  • China’s donation of radio equipment to the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which consists of live broadcast room equipment, FM broadcast transmitter equipment, and medium wave transmitter equipment.
  • A document on the protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of agricultural products from the Philippines to China, which is about the risk assessment and on-site inspection for the Philippine market access of fresh has avocado for export to China. With China as among the world’s largest consumer markets, this accord is expected to raise incomes and create more jobs in the farm sector.

Dominguez also said that the two parties discussed matters of mutual interest, including China’s belt and road initiative and the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Rappler.com

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Ralf Rivas

A sociologist by heart, a journalist by profession. Ralf is Rappler's business reporter, covering macroeconomy, government finance, companies, and agriculture.