LP ‘concerned’ over ‘blacklisted’ Chinese firms doing Marawi rehab

The Liberal Party on Tuesday expressed concern that the two Chinese firms tapped to conduct rehabilitation works in war-torn Marawi City were blacklisted by the World Bank in 2009.

The party noted that China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSEC) and China Geo Engineering Corporation (CGC) were blacklisted due to corrupt practices in the Philippines.

“The people of Marawi already suffered enough,” the party said in statement. “The administration should not aggravate their pain by turning a blind eye on martial law abuses and counting on Chinese contractors with questionable backgrounds to take charge of Marawi City’s rehabilitation.”

READ: Marawi rehab cost: P75B

The party also urged President Rodrigo Duterte to lift martial law in Mindanao, saying that the government should instead focus on providing permanent shelters to 26,000 displaced households.

LP added that Marawi residents “live in fear due to the ongoing martial law.”

So far, the government has only built 1,000 temporary shelters, according to the party.

“This figure clearly shows that the government should put its money where its mouth is: shelter for the Marawi residents,” LP noted. /ee

READ: LP to Duterte: Lift martial law in Mindanao