Senate urged to probe foreign loan terms

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima has sought an inquiry into the terms and conditions of foreign loans obtained by the Duterte administration to fund its ambitious Build Build Build program to assess their impact on the economy and national security.

De Lima has urged the appropriate Senate committee to look into the funding of the centerpiece of the Duterte administration’s infrastructure program which will reportedly cost P8.2 trillion over six years.

“Congress, as representatives of our people, must be involved, via its oversight functions, in the negotiation of the loan agreements to ensure that the terms provided in the said agreements are fair and in keeping with our country’s ability to utilize the proceeds and pay said loans,” De Lima said.

“It is incumbent upon Congress to scrutinize all loan agreements of this magnitude entered into by the government to protect our country from onerous and odious provisions that could jeopardize our country’s future, both in terms of financial as well as territorial security,” she added.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier claimed that 15 percent of the funds shall be sourced from foreign borrowing.

However, De Lima noted that of the 75 flagship projects NEDA has approved, 48 percent of the funds would be borrowed from foreign lenders.

She expressed concern over the administration’s lack of transparency over the terms of Chinese loans to fund the infrastructure program, noting that lenders, including China, pay around two to seven percent finders’ fee for each agreement.

“Such incentives could shape public policy and encourage more loan agreements than necessary, especially if such fee is paid as kickbacks to government officials who pushed for and brokered said deals at the expense of the Filipino who will be paying for the loans in the following years, if not decades,” she said.

De Lima also took issue on the loans offered by China which she claimed would have an impact on the Philippines’ foreign policy, including the country’s stakes in the contested islands in the South China Sea, also known as the West Philippine Sea.

She warned that tying the Philippines to huge monetary indebtedness to China will also have an undeniable impact on the conduct of the country’s foreign relations, “and most certainly will be used by China as a leverage against us in its continuing effort to undermine our claims.

In May 2017, De Lima has filed a similar resolution, which also seeks to look into the loan agreements with China that may either put the country in dire debt or force the country into commitments that might undermine its sovereignty.