Philippine-China Holds Forum on Infra Construction Cooperation

Key infrastructure accomplishments in the first half of the President Rodrigo Duterte administration and investment opportunities under Build, Build, Build program were presented to Chinese business groups in a forum on China’s Belt and Road Initiative held Friday, July 26, 2019 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, representing Secretary Mark A. Villar, joined a panel of Philippine officials including Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and speaking before an audience of Chinese businessmen and stakeholders at The Belt and Road China-Philippines Sub Forum on People-to-People Exchange & Economic Cooperation.

Undersecretary Sadain, DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services, highlighted in his speech that China-funded projects particularly the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges have already started with more opportunities for partnership and cooperation between the Philippines and China for various Build, Build, Build infrastructure projects.

“This event is a great opportunity because the Belt and Road Initiative complements Philippines’ economic development strategy of Build, Build, Build which will usher in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure”, said Undersecretary Sadain.

Some technical technical staff of the DPWH UPMO including Project Directors Patrick Gatan and Virgilio Castillo, were also present in the forum organized and hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) led by Secretary Martin M. Andanar and China Public Diplomacy Association.

The Belt and Road China-Philippines Forum on People-to-People Exchange & Economic Cooperation is a platform for exchanging dialogues on the current state and development between China and Philippines. (DPWH PR)