Philippines, China ink commercial contracts for 3 priority bridge projects

The construction of three Chinese-funded bridges cumulatively worth $240 million are expected to start in the first half of 2021, with loan negotiations ongoing after the Philippines and China inked commercial contracts.

In a statement, the Embassy of China said commercial contracts have been signed for the government-to-government cooperation project for the North and South Harbor Bridge, the Eastbank-Wesbank Bridge, and the Palanca-Villegas Bridge.

Located at the port area of Manila, the North and South Harbor Bridge is designed to be a 799-meter two-way four-lane bridge, which will accommodate over 5,800 vehicles daily.

The Eastbank-Westbank Bridge will connect the cities of Pasig and Cainta over the Manggahan Floodway. It will be 933 meters long, with a 258-meter main bridge with a capacity to carry over 18,000 vehicles daily after a three-year construction.

Meanwhile, the Palanca-Villegas Bridge crossing over the Pasig River in Manila is a two-way two-lane bridge 225 meters long. It is expected to carry over 2,900 vehicles per day after a construction period of 26 months.

"Both sides are now working on the loan agreement negotiation of the Three Priority Bridges Project. The construction of the three bridges is expected to kick off in the first half of 2021," the Chinese Embassy said.

The three projects are part of the Pasig-Marikina Ricer and Manggahan Floodway bridges Construction Project, which aims to improve the road network and increase the transportation capacity in Metro Manila.

In 2016, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said China opened up as much as $9 billion in loans to the Philippines to finance its ambitious infrastructure program and other key projects of the administration.

To recall, during a state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2018, China and the Philippines signed and exchanged 29 documents on areas of cooperation.

Under the Duterte administration, the Philippines has so far finalized loan agreements with China for the $72.49-million Chico River Irrigation project, and the P18.724-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project.

In March 2018, Chinese newspaper Global Times, citing an expert, said Chinese-funded loans to the Philippines could use natural resources as collateral. This has been refuted by the Philippine government, who said that there is no danger for the country of being drowned from Chinese debt. — BM, GMA News