MANILA, Philippines—The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) did not only allow Chinese nationals to “exercise leadership and management roles” but it has also allegedly awarded 43 contracts to Chinese firms.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros presented documents on Monday to back her new allegations.
Contrary to NGCP’s claim, Hontiveros insisted that China’s involvement was not only limited to advisory roles.
“Mawalang galang, ngunit ito ay pinabubulaanan ng mga dokumentong nakarating sa aking tanggapan (With all due respect but the documents that we received belie this),” she said in a privilege speech.
Hontiveros said the documents showed that a Chinese national, Wen Bo, was named NGCP Chief Technical Officer, while a certain Liu Zhaoquiang was appointed Assistant Chief Technical Officer for Operations and Maintenance.
“Correct me if I am wrong, but if your designation is operation and maintenance, you work in the nuts and bolts of the enterprise,” she said.
“Ang malala pa (And worst), the current chairperson of the NGCP is Zhu Guangchao of the State Grid Corporation of China,” the senator said, citing a news report.
With Chinese nationals at the helm, Honiveros said, “it is of little surprise that Filipino engineers are regularly sent to China to participate in training programs hosted by the State Grid Corporation of China.”
But China’s involvement in the country’s sole transmission service provider does not end there. NGCP is 40-percent owned by State Grid Corp. of China.
“The NGCP has also awarded various procurement contracts to different Chinese firms,” the senator went on.
“ Materials for the infrastructure of the transmission lines have been supplied by Chinese firms using Chinese designed technology,” Hontiveros said, noting the list in her slide show presentation.
“Makikita sa listahan na ito na (You can see in this list that) 43 contracts have been awarded to Chinese corporations.”
She said it would be hard to believe that NGCP is “Filipino-run” if its chairman, and contractors are Chinese; its systems software was made in China and even its training was done in China.
“It is my duty as a legislator to sound this alarm. It is our duty as the legislature to ensure that the interests of Filipinos are adequately protected,” she said.
Hontiveros has already filed a bill, seeking a security audit on the national power grid.