DOF: Chinese reorganization delayed infrastructure ODA

Securing official development assistance (ODA) for infrastructure projects has been delayed by reorganization of the Chinese government early this year, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Wednesday.

The meetings between Philippine economic managers and their Chinese counterparts did not push through as scheduled, the Finance chief noted.

“Remember in February and March the Chinese government, the Communist Party, went through their reorganization? So that has delayed our meeting a bit, but it is completely understandable,” Dominguez said during a press briefing at the National Government Administrative Center in Capas, Tarlac.

In early March, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to reshuffle and improve the bureaucracy.

“They are reorganizing their government and that caused the delay,” the Finance chief said.

But the Philippines is bent on securing funding from China.

“We are planning to meet with them by the third week of August,” Dominguez said. “We are pushing as quickly as we can.”

Last June, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia floated the idea of shifting the mode of financing for some infrastructure projects to be funded by ODA from China and Japan if there are delays in securing funds.

Among the big-ticket projects to be financed with ODA from Japan and China are the Metro Manila Subway and the Chico River Pump Irrigation.

“I hope the people will understand. We’re trying to go as fast as we can,” Dominguez said.