Hontiveros calls on Palace to ‘stop exaggerating’ China’s aid to the PH

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday questioned why the Palace continues to “exaggerate” the Chinese government’s aid and development assistance to the Philippines.

The senator also disputed Malacañang’s statements that the country owes a huge debt of gratitude to China.

“Wala tayong utang na loob sa Tsina. Baka ang mga opisyal sa palasyo pa ang may utang na loob sa Beijing,” she said.

“Nakakapagtaka lang na ang nakaluklok sa Malacañang pa mismo ang nagpapabango sa pangalan ng Tsina, kahit umaaalingasaw na ang baho ng pang-aabuso nila sa mga Pilipino sa West Philippine Sea. Ano ba ang ugat ng special friendship na binabanggit nila?” Hontiveros asked.

The statement comes as the government’s Investor Relations Office recently shared that China ranks only fifth among the Philippines’ sources of official development assistance (ODA). Japan remains the country’s top provider of ODA and infrastructure development partner.

Japan is then followed by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and South Korea. Japan’s total ODA to the Philippines hit $11.2 billion. Despite the Palace’s pivot to China, Beijing’s ODA amounted to only $600 million.

“Malacañang should stop misleading the public. Huwag nilang pagmukhaing ang Tsina ang nangunguna sa pagbigay ng aid at loans sa Pilipinas,” Hontiveros said.

“Nung una, ang sabi Build, Build, Build. Bakit naging Bow, Bow, Bow na yata? Inaagaw na nga ng China ang teritoryo natin sa WPS, tapos, tayo pa daw ang may utang na loob? Tayo dito sa Pilipinas ang nalulugi sa inaasal ng Malacañang,” Hontiveros said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)