Rejection of grants ‘with conditions’ to stay, says DOF

The head of the Duterte administration’s economic team has reiterated that the government will not accept foreign grants with conditions from the donor, citing that it was only the European Union bloc that slapped conditions before giving away aid.

“The EU is the only development partner of the Philippines whose financing agreement explicitly contains provisions that are linked to the national government conduct on human rights and rule of law,” Dominguez told reporters on Friday.

Last week, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen confirmed that the Philippine government rejected a 6.1-million euro or about P382.8-million trade assistance.

Three projects amounting 39 million euros or around P2.4 billion were about to be rejected, according to Jessen, following criticisms from the European Union and European parliamentarians of President Duterte’s bloody “war” against illegal drugs. —BEN O. DE VERA