Diokno: Banning Chinese firms may cause ‘delays’

By Julito G. Rada

THE idea of banning Chinese state-owned firms from taking part in the government’s infrastructure projects may result in negative consequences, such as delays in bigticket undertakings and the lack of available workers.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the head of the administration’s economic team, said this Wednesday after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri floated the idea of banning Chinese companies amid the reported harassment of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea recently (see related story on A1— Editors).

The latest incident was the Chinese Coast Guard’s firing of water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels that were escorting ships carrying supplies to Filipino troops stationed in the Ayungin Shoal.

“In case a decision is made to ban Chinese contractors from participating in pipeline projects of the national government, it may have potential effects,” Diokno said during a hearing in the Senate.

“For example, implementation of official development assistance projects