THE Philippine high-level delegation is presenting to China the list of projects that the Duterte administration wants to be funded through the official development assistance, the Department of Finance said Monday.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, one of the Cabinet members who are in Beijing for the two-day trip, said among the projects include the improvement of irrigation systems for the benefit of the country's poorest farmers, power generation particularly in providing hydroelectricity, and railways construction.
“We admire China’s experience in all of these fields. China has demonstrated that it is among the best in the world in executing big infra projects,” he said.
“This will be our second discussion [with Chinese officials about the projects] since November last year. We hope that in our visit here, we would be able to proceed with the projects that are ready to be implemented,” Dominguez said.
He also said that the top-level mission also aims to further enhance “the strong friendship and economic cooperation” between the Philippines and China.
“President Duterte told me to extend his best regards to the Chinese officials that we will be meeting here as well as to the people of China, who showered him with a warm welcome during his state visit here last year,” Dominguez said.
Aside from Dominguez, the other Cabinet officials who are now in Beijing include Secretaries Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Director General Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). (SDR/VoxPop Philippines)