DOLE: There should be preferential treatment for Filipinos on foreign-funded projects

by Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) – Mar 5, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — In all foreign-funded infrastructure projects, there should be preferential allocation for Filipino workers, the Department of Labor and Employment said Tuesday.

During the Senate committee on economic affairs inquiry into the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” project, Sen. Nancy Binay asked government officials if hiring Chinese workers was part of the country’s agreement with Beijing.

“You have to face the fact that there has been an influx of Chinese construction workers,” Binay said.

Responding to Binay’s inquiry, Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Tan said the number of Chinese personnel hired on each project would depend on the contract.

“When we negotiated the loan, we said there’s no preferential (treatment) for China as far as sourcing is concerned,” Tan told the Senate panel.

Labor Assistant Secretary Joji Aragon, meanwhile, explained that the terms of references indicate whether foreign personnel would be hired.

In the case of the Chinese-funded Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges, only skilled Chinese workers were employed, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Data from the DPWH showed that out of the 140 personnel working for the two bridges, almost 30 workers are Chinese nationals.

“In as far as monitoring is concerned, all workers have to submit to the Department of Labor [and Employment], which is the sole authority on issuing these licenses,” Aragon said.

The DOLE, the DPWH and the DOJ have agreed that all foreign nationals working in foreign-funded projects have to secure an alien employment permit.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, on the other hand, clarified that all agreements with China have provisions for preferential use of Filipino labor.

“However, as to the percentages and the division it’s really on a case-to-case basis depending on the project but, I think, as a general rule if the work can be done Filipino labor, it will be done by Filipino labor,” Dizon said.

Binay then asked the DOLE officials present in the Senate hearing if this was true, to which Aragon answered they would have to look more closely on the matter.

The senator pointed out that the “Build, Build, Build” program was intended to create jobs for Filipinos.

“This nuance that labor is included in the (Official Development Assistance) or grant appears to be particular with Chinese loans… Maybe we should check with the NEDA or the DOF. Maybe this will add another dimension when we enter into an ODA with China or other countries,” Binay said.