MANILA – The Chinese government should be given flexibility in hiring workers for its funded infrastructure projects here in the Philippines, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Roque noted that China should have the leeway in employing workers in the bridge construction projects in the country, given that these are “100 percent” donations from them.
“It’s being given to us 100 percent. We don’t pay back anything for the building of these bridges, and that’s why we need to give them some flexibility in the personnel that they would hire,” Roque said.
“Had this been a project that we would pay for using taxpayers’ money, of course, the government would insist that aside from highly-technical positions, that Philippine labor should be employed,” he added.
“But the proper perspective is this is an outright grant or donation to the Philippine government. Because of that, I just appeal that we should give them some leeway,” he furthered.
The Department of Public Works and Highways earlier admitted that Chinese workers have been employed for two China-funded infrastructure projects – the Pantaleon-Estrella Bridge and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.
During the recent Senate hearing, Public works Undersecretary Emil Sadain said 31 percent of the workforce in the first project is Chinese, while the latter also listed 45 percent of Chinese workers.
These proportions did not sit well with some senators, as Roque said he will raise this concern to both the DPWH and the Department of Labor and Employment.
“We would appreciate it of course if the Chinese government should employ more Filipinos… But my gut feeling is, because it’s a 100 percent grant, the Chinese have to be given more flexibility on the decision whom to hire,” Roque said./PN
