MANILA — The cooperation between the Philippines and China, particularly in infrastructure development, is important as Filipinos will benefit from it, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
The DPWH chief said he is convinced that the partnership between the two nations will help improve public transportation in the Philippines.
“Mahalaga ang kooperasyon ng Pilipinas at Tsina sa larangan ng konstruksyon ng imprastruktura, dahil nakikinabang dito ang mga Pilipino(The cooperation between the Philippines and China is important because Filipinos will benefit from it),” Villar said in an interview by China Radio International last Thursday.
With this, he reported that the DPWH and China’s Ministry of Commerce signed two agreements, the “Implementation Agreement of the Feasibility Study of Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridge Project” and the “Implementation Agreement of the Feasibility Study of Davao City Expressway Project” during the two-day visit of President Xi Jinping of China in the country last week.
Villar said that the feasibility studies on the two infrastructure projects have started and construction is expected to commence in 2019.
He also acknowledged China’s vast experience in terms of infrastructure and its commitment in sharing technologies and providing funds needed to help the Philippines.
“Malaki ang proyekto ng imprastruktura ng Pilipinas at Tsina at kailangan nito ang masusing pagsusuri bago ang konstruksyon. Kaya mahaba ang kabuuang panahon na gugugulin sa konstruksyon ng imprastruktura at dapat manatili ang pasensiya (The Philippines and China have big infrastructure projects so a thorough assessment is needed before construction. So it will take a long time for the construction and presence must always be felt),” he added.
At the same time, Villar expressed confidence that the country will benefit from the partnership with China, particularly in building infrastructures under the Duterte administration.
The Chinese president visited the Philippines last Nov. 20 to 21.