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AT HOME IN MANILA Chinese workers walk past billboards displaying images of their home as they begin the day’s work on the China-funded Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines – The Chinese government should have “flexibility” in hiring workers on two Chinese-funded bridge projects in the country, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Senators previously questioned the high proportion of Chinese workers on the Binondo-Intramuros bridge and Estrella-Pantaleón bridge projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Let me emphasize that these bridges are 100% donations from the Chinese government. So I think that should give us the proper perspective, “said presidential spokesman Harry Roque in an interview on CNN Philippines.
“They are giving it to us one hundred percent, we pay nothing for the bidding of these bridges and that is why we have to give them some flexibility in the personnel they hire,” he added.
During a Senate hearing on the DPWH budget last week, Undersecretary Emil Sadain said that on the Binondo-Intramuros bridge project, Filipino workers make up 55 percent of the workforce while Chinese workers make up 45 percent of the workforce. percent.
Sadain said the workforce at the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is 69 percent Filipino workers and 31 percent Chinese workers.
“It is a total grant or donation to the Philippine government and I am sure of that because I attended the inauguration of these bridges. Therefore, I appeal to us to give them a margin of maneuver. Although, of course, we would appreciate if the Chinese government would employ more Filipinos, ”said Roque.
Roque said he would discuss the issue with DPWH and the Department of Labor and Employment if the government could insist that more Filipinos be hired in such projects.
/ MUF
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