Zubiri urges ban of Chinese firms in gov't projects

After the Senate adopted a resolution against China's continued incursions and following a privilege speech condemning the water cannon attack against Philippine vessels, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is now urging a boycott of Chinese firms.

In a report on "24 Oras," Zubiri said the government can begin this by banning Chinese companies from taking part in state-funded projects.

“For example projects of the DPWH, projects of the DOTr at ang kagandahan nito ay kausap ko na kanina, nagmeeting po kami ni Secretary Jimmy Bautista, ang sabi niya po, wala nang major projects na hawak ng Chinese-owned lalo na state-owned corporations na mga projects sa DOTr, so welcome sign yan,” he said.

He said that the projects should be given to countries that share the same view as the Philippines regarding issues on the West Philippine Sea.

Zubiri said he plans to discuss this proposal with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) so that Chinese-owned companies will no longer be prioritized in government construction projects.

“Nitong budget hearing, babanggitin ko ‘yan sa lahat ng mga ahensya na meron pong infrastructure projects and programs, ay talagang aapela ako sa kanila, na kung puwede gamitin po natin ang ibang bansa, huwag naman yung mga bansa na kaibigan natin, totoong kaibigan natin at hindi pong kunyaring kaibigan natin na talagang iba pala ang kanilang agenda,” Zubiri added.

He said Filipinos should also start boycotting products from China as some countries in the region have done.

However, according to a former cabinet member and economist, the product boycott will be a hard thing to do.

"Not so easy because, as you said, many countries need imports from China. So kung tayo lang, walang ano, I don't think it will have an effect. It will work if there are other countries that will join us, like the US. If the US joins us, then that will be a big dent in trade ng China," said Ernesto Pernia, former Director General of the National Economic Development Authority.

Last year, China was named the largest trading partner of the Philippines, reaching over $39 billion or 18 percent of the Philippines' total foreign trade.

Majority of the imported goods that entered the Philippines last year were also from China, which reached $28 billion or 20 percent of the total imports.

"Magsa-suffer tayo in terms of what we need from China. Unless we can import from other countries what we cannot import from China," said Pernia who is also professor emeritus at the UP School of Economics.

China is also the largest trade partner of the Philippines.

Based on a GMA Integrated News Research study, about $28.22 billion were imported by the Philippines from China last year. This was part of $39.18 billion total trade between the two countries.

The same report said there are also 268,032 Filipinos living in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Xiamen.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News