On June 9, 1975, China and the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations. To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, China Report ASEAN launched a commemorative special issue with the theme of “Golden Ties.” Projects constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in the Philippines were covered in this special issue. 

Localization management: A bridge to China-Philippines friendship

Localization management is not only a way to facilitate the development of an enterprise, but also an important strategy taken by CSCEC to implement the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen people-to-people ties. During the construction process, CSCEC purchased a large amount of local supplies, including machinery, construction materials, furniture, medical equipment, etc., totaling US$10 million, which drove the local economic development and increased the income of nearby residents. 

Aiming to benefit the residents, CSCEC hired about 450 local workers and administrative staff. CSCEC not only increased employment opportunities, but also trained a large number of local workers in engineering and technical skills. Abiding by the Labor Code of the Philippines, CSCEC paid social insurance for local employees, established an incentive mechanism, issued overtime pay and year-end bonuses, etc.

Maria, who lives near the construction site, said, “CSCEC not only offered jobs to the villagers, but also taught us a lot of skills. Some farmers who originally only knew how to farm gained skills from the construction process and were able to find jobs in the provincial capital. Thank you, China and Chinese enterprises. We hope China and the Philippines will always be good friends.”

Chinese employees actively participated in public welfare activities. They helped the community to repair its basketball court and donated 800,000-yuan worth of stationery and teaching materials to schools, receiving the praises of the Philippine government and local people.

Unite against COVID-19 and overcome difficulties together

China Construction (Philippines) adjusted its disease prevention and control strategies in a timely manner based on the development of the pandemic in the Philippines, and urged its project teams to formulate and improve specific implementation plans for pandemic control and production resumption. The tasks included clarifying the timeline of resuming work and production, delineating detailed measures to supply materials and contain the virus, designating staff and posts to ensure fulfillment of responsibilities, building a mechanism to report and handle the outbreak, managing pandemic control shift rotations, and creating a flowchart of staff management during production resumption. To specify the plan for pandemic prevention and control and strictly implement it was key for work resumption and steady project progress. 

CSCEC drew on the experience of constructing Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan and followed the requirements of the local government to promote work and production resumption on the premise that all the pandemic prevention and control measures were in place. In this process, CSCEC made active efforts to increase employment and stimulate economic recovery in the Philippines.  

As early as the 1980s, CSCEC entered the Philippine market and undertook many projects that benefited people’s livelihood, including the college town project of the University of the Philippines, the Catanduanes Island Roundabout Highway 3B project, the Samar Island road project, the Agno River flood control project, and the Pampanga River dam project. In the new era, the partnership between China and the Philippines has begun to take shape. The cooperation between the two countries has been expanding. CSCEC will strive to make new contributions to the development of China-Philippines economic and trade relations.

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