MANILA -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday lauded the move of the Department of Finance (DOF) to post on its website the loan agreements for flagship infrastructure projects signed under the Duterte administration for greater transparency.
"In the spirit of transparency, mabuti na napagpasyahan ng Department of Finance na maglaan ng espasyo sa kanilang website para mabilis na makikita at mabubusi ng publiko ang mga loan agreements na nilagdaan ng ating gobyerno (it's a good thing that the Department of Finance decided to allot a space within their website for the public to easily access and scrutinize the loan agreements signed by the government)," Gatchalian said.
Calls for transparency mounted regarding the Duterte administration's foreign loan agreements for infrastructure projects, especially for the upcoming Kaliwa Dam project deal with China.
Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on economic affairs, cited the need for the government to disclose these contracts to serve public interest and promote greater transparency.
"Whether it be with China, Japan, or any country for that matter, it is in the best interest of the government to exercise greater transparency in the agreements it entered--even beyond what the law requires," Gatchalian said.
"Every Filipino has the right to know and understand the process, criteria, and methodology that the government employs when signing important agreements such as the infrastructure loan deals," he added.
The loan agreements signed under the Duterte administration can be accessed here: https://www.dof.gov.ph/index.php/data/loan-agreements/. (PNA)
