THE government signed 10 agreements with China yesterday, including six feasibility studies for two big-ticket infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.
Philippine officials met with Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua yesterday in Manila to discuss the progress of their financing cooperation and development initiatives, the Department of Finance said in a statement late Thursday.
“We welcome this high-level engagement, as we underscore the importance of assessing where we stand, while providing added impetus in our efforts to achieve our objectives and deliverables,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III was quoted as saying.
“I’ll be happy to work together with you, Mr. Secretary, to implement the important consensus of our two heads of state and to promote the better development of our cooperation,” Mr. Hu said.
The officials signed six feasibility study agreements and four agreements dealing with trade, customs and communications.
The feasibility studies include the Davao City Expressway Project and Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridge, both by CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. and funded by the Chinese government.
Another agreement covered the Chinese donation of broadcasting equipment to the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) under the Philippine Radio Equipment project.
The donation includes live broadcast room equipment, FM broadcast transmitter equipment and medium wave transmitter equipment, among others.
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) is also to receive container testing equipment, including four sets of mobile container/vehicle inspection system and two sets of CT Scan inspection systems.
Two other agreements cover the Marawi Sports Complex and Central Market Projects, and the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Avocado from the Philippines to China. — Beatrice M. Laforga
