12 infrastructure projects pitched for China aid agency grants

China’s new aid agency was eyeing to provide grants to finance the feasibility studies for 12 infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build.”

In a statement yesterday, the Department of Finance (DOF) also disclosed that the China International Development Cooperation Agency (Cidca) would extend a $13.4-million grant for the feasibility study of the bridge project that would link Guimaras, Negros and Panay islands in Visayas.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and the government’s economic and infrastructure teams met with Cidca chair Wang Xiaotao in Beijing last week.

The DOF quoted Wang as saying that the Philippine delegation was “the first high-level delegation” that the Chinese aid agency received since it was established last April.

“This truly shows that China gives great importance to the promotion of its bilateral relations with the Philippines,” Wang told the Philippine officials.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia presented to Wang the 12 big-ticket infrastructure projects being pitched for Chinese grants.

The projects are the future phases of the Mindanao Railway; Bohol-Leyte Link Bridge; Cabadbaran Small Reservoir Irrigation Project; Camarines Sur-Catanduanes Friendship Bridge; Cebu-Bohol Link Bridge; Dinagat (Leyte)-Surigao Link Bridge; Ipo Dam No. 3; Luzon Eastern Seaboard development; Luzon-Samar (Matnog-Alen) Bridge; Negros-Cebu Link Bridge; Port Irene Development-Navigational Channel; a river basin and watershed management project in Camarines Sur.

“These projects are selected considering geographic spread, the size of the investment requirement, and the Duterte administration’s focus on connectivity, rural development and disaster prevention, among other considerations,” Pernia was quoted by the DOF as saying during the meeting.