China to donate P1.15 billion grant for Marawi rehab

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday said China would give a 150 million renminbi (RNB) or about P1.15 billion grant for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

Li made the announcement during a joint statement with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon.

“The Chinese government will provide 150 million RNB of grants for the rebuilding and improvement of livelihood in Marawi to demonstrate the support of the Chinese people,” he said.

Prior to their joint statement, Duterte and Li had a bilateral meeting where the President reiterated his gratitude to the Chinese government for its immediate help during the five-month Marawi City siege.

Li responded, saying China would always be ready to provide assistance to the Philippines.

“We are ready to provide and grant assistance to your country. Helping the Philippines is helping ourselves,” he said.

The Marawi aid from China was one of the 14 memoranda of understanding and agreements that the Philippines and China signed on Wednesday.

The agreements signed are:

1. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China
2. Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promoting on Second Basket of Key Infrastructure Projects Cooperation between the Department of Finance of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of the People’s Republic of China
3. Exchange of Letters on Project of Dangerous Drugs Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers
4. Exchange of Letters on Project of Two Bridges Across Pasig River
5. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Industrial Parks Development between the Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China
6. Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promoting the Philippine National Railways South Long Hall Project Cooperation between the Department of Transportation of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China
7. Implementation Framework for the Memorandum of Understanding and Development of Project List for Cooperation in Production Capacity and Investment between the National Economic and Development Authority of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China
8. Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China Concerning the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change
9. Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Industry Cooperation between the Department of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines and the State Administration of Science Technology Industry of the National Defense of the People’s Republic of China
10. Memorandum of Understanding between the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the State Intellectual Property of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property
11. Memorandum of Understanding between the National Youth Commission and the All-China Youth Federation on Strengthening Youth Cooperation
12. The Financing Cooperation Agreement on Chico River Pump Irrigation Project and New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines represented by the Department of Finance and the Export-Import Bank of China
13. The Republic of the Philippines 2017 Renminbi Bond Issuance Underwriting Agreement
14. Memorandum of Understanding between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and China Development Bank /je