Philippines-China projects resume at 80% capacity

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, work for government-to-government cooperation projects between the Philippines and China resumed at over 80 percent capacity, the Chinese embassy in Manila said yesterday.

The embassy said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian discussed the projects in a video conference with Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.

The two exchanged views on how to overcome the negative influences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and promote the Department of Public Works and Highways-charged cooperation projects.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain and Minister Counsellor Jiang Jianjun of the Chinese embassy joined the virtual meeting.

Huang said he appreciated the efforts the Philippines has made to fulfill the pledge of President Duterte and President Xi Jinping to promote the projects.

He said the Philippine economic team and the embassy have maintained an effective mechanism of communication and cooperation.

“Up until now, the projects under implementation have resumed operation at over 80 percent capacity,” the embassy said.

Huang expressed hope that more projects would be launched, especially those of the Belt and Road Initiative and the “Build, Build, Build” program.

Villar thanked the teams of both sides and commended the smooth progress of the inter-government projects.

The DPWH has taken charge of the implementation of 14 cooperation projects, three of which have been completed.