Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino senatorial candidate and former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile urged the Duterte administration to ensure more work for Filipinos in its “Build Build Build” program expected to get a boost from China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
In his visit to Tarlac on Monday, the 95-year-old four-term senator noted the investment deals inked by Chinese businessmen with Filipino firms at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing was a welcome development for Filipino workers and businessmen.
He said this was an opportunity for our workers in the construction, agriculture and telecommunications industry.
“If we could harness the developments in the Belt and Road Initiative to improve infrastructure, connectivity, and economic exchange with other countries, then we can create more jobs for Filipinos here,” Enrile said.
Through an infusion of foreign capital, Enrile believes more employment opportunities can be provided to Filipinos.
Some 19 business agreements worth over $12 billion have been inked between the Filipino and Chinese companies in the sectors of energy, infrastructure, Internet and agriculture during the BRF.
President Rodrigo Duterte also clinched a P7.7-billion grant from President Xi Jinping.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a recreation of the “Silk Road” aimed at connecting Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors to improve regional integration, increase trade and stimulate economic growth. Macon Ramos-Araneta