Remulla willing to terminate deal with China firm if risky for national security

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla is willing to terminate the deal with firm China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. on the Sangley Airport Development Project if it will threaten the Philippines' national security.

In a television interview on Friday, Remulla said it is up to the national government to assess if the partnership with the Chinese company is risky for the country.

"The joint venture between CCCC and MacroAsia is about to be completed. It’s not perfected yet. Their boards have to approve it, it should be done... maybe in a month,” Remulla told ANC.

“But it’s a national security issue... If the President says, if the Department of National Defense says that it’s a security risk entering into an agreement with them, then we will cease or terminate the agreements immediately,” he added.

This came after the United States had imposed sanctions and restrictions on at least 24 Chinese companies and associated officials for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

The local government of Cavite had awarded the contract for the phase 1 of the Sangley Point International Airport Project to the consortium of Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd.

The project’s first phase involves the construction of a runway, connector road, and bridge to the Kawit segment of CAVITEx.

The Cavite provincial government targets the Sangley International Airport to partially operate in 2022 while its full operability is eyed in 2023.—AOL, GMA News