PH, Chinese gov'ts lead groundbreaking of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project
By Roel Tibay
Published Jun 8, 2018 07:42 pm
By Roy Mabasa
Officials from the Philippines and Chinese governments on Friday led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the US$73 million Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) funded under China’s concessional loan arrangement.
(photo from MyNewsLA.com)
In a statement, Chinese Embassy Commercial Counsellor Jin Yuan said the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project is one of the major achievements reaped under the improved bilateral ties of China and the Philippines.
Targetted for completion in three years, the irrigation project will benefit the Municipalities of Tuao, Piat and Pinukpuk.
The Chinese Embassy said, all in all, the project will provide a stable supply of water to around 8,700 hectares of agricultural land, benefiting 4,350 households in 21 barangays in the Kalinga Province and Cagayan Provinces, and create hundreds of employment opportunities for the local folks.
“The Chinese side will spare no efforts to build this project and make it a symbol of China-Philippines Friendship. I firmly believe that China-Philippines strategic mutual trust is bound to be much stronger and economic cooperation even closer. China together with the Philippines will continue to steer the ship of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road towards a brighter future,” he said.
Yuan noted that since the first visit of President Duterte to China in 2016, and the five meetings he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping on both bilateral and multilateral occasions, the two countries have set the course for a “win-win and sound growth” on their relations.
He also underscored the importance of the visit made by Premier Li Keqiang to the Philippines in November last year which further boosted the strong momentum of the cooperation between Manila and Beijing.
“Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, great potential for cooperation have been unleashed and rich outcomes have been reaped,” Yuan said in his remarks during the ceremony.
Apart from the Chico River project, Yuan also highlighted other major projects being funded by Chinese grants, such as the two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao that started construction early this year, and the two bridges across Pasig River that will start construction by the end of this month.
He said discussions are now underway for the second tranche of the infrastructure cooperation projects worth USD $10 billion to be funded by Chinese soft loans.
For his part, National Irrigation Administration chief Ricardo Visaya expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for lending its support to the project that will involve the installation of pumps, construction of pumping station, irrigation canals, and other relevant facilities and structures.
(photo from MyNewsLA.com)
In a statement, Chinese Embassy Commercial Counsellor Jin Yuan said the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project is one of the major achievements reaped under the improved bilateral ties of China and the Philippines.
Targetted for completion in three years, the irrigation project will benefit the Municipalities of Tuao, Piat and Pinukpuk.
The Chinese Embassy said, all in all, the project will provide a stable supply of water to around 8,700 hectares of agricultural land, benefiting 4,350 households in 21 barangays in the Kalinga Province and Cagayan Provinces, and create hundreds of employment opportunities for the local folks.
“The Chinese side will spare no efforts to build this project and make it a symbol of China-Philippines Friendship. I firmly believe that China-Philippines strategic mutual trust is bound to be much stronger and economic cooperation even closer. China together with the Philippines will continue to steer the ship of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road towards a brighter future,” he said.
Yuan noted that since the first visit of President Duterte to China in 2016, and the five meetings he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping on both bilateral and multilateral occasions, the two countries have set the course for a “win-win and sound growth” on their relations.
He also underscored the importance of the visit made by Premier Li Keqiang to the Philippines in November last year which further boosted the strong momentum of the cooperation between Manila and Beijing.
“Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, great potential for cooperation have been unleashed and rich outcomes have been reaped,” Yuan said in his remarks during the ceremony.
Apart from the Chico River project, Yuan also highlighted other major projects being funded by Chinese grants, such as the two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao that started construction early this year, and the two bridges across Pasig River that will start construction by the end of this month.
He said discussions are now underway for the second tranche of the infrastructure cooperation projects worth USD $10 billion to be funded by Chinese soft loans.
For his part, National Irrigation Administration chief Ricardo Visaya expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for lending its support to the project that will involve the installation of pumps, construction of pumping station, irrigation canals, and other relevant facilities and structures.