ni ROSE NOVENARIO
DAPAT bigyan ng kalayaang kumuha ang Chinese government ng sarili nilang mga manggagawa sa dalawang China-funded bridge projects sa bansa.
Inilinaw ni Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque na siyento porsiyentong donasyon ng Chinese government ang mga proyektong tulay.
“Let me highlight that these bridges are a hundred percent donations from the Chinese government. So I think that should give us the proper perspective,” ayon kay Roque.
Nauna rito’y kinuwestiyon ng mga senador ang malaking bilang ng Chinese workers sa Binondo-Intramuros bridge at Estrella-Pantaleon bridge project ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“It’s being given to us hundred percent, we don’t pay back anything for the bidding of these bridges and that’s why we need to give them some flexibility in the personnel that they hire,” dagdag niya.
Sa ginanap na Senate hearing sa DPWH budget kamakailan, inamin ni Undersecretary Emil Sadain na ang Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project ay binubuo ng 55 porsiyentong manggagawang Pinoy at 45% ay Chinese workers.
Habang sa Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge project ay may 69 porsiyentong Filipino workers at 31 porsiyento ay Chinese workers.
“It’s an outright grant or donation to the Philippine government and I’m sure of that because I attended the groundbreaking of these bridges. Because of that I just appeal that we give them some leeway. Although, we would appreciate it of course if the Chinese government should employ more Filipinos,” ayon kay Roque.
Tiniyak ni Roque na tatalakayin niya ang isyu sa DPWH at sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) kung maaaring igiit na mas maraming manggagawang Pinoy ang kunin sa mga naturang proyekto.