Duterte shelves Chinese projects but still pushes 'Build, Build, Build'

In infrastructure policy revamp, Manila cuts reliance on loans and embraces PPP

20191115N Duterte airplane

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte disembarks from a plane upon his arrival at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Nov. 4. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office) 

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte's government has shelved infrastructure projects it deems unfeasible, including at least two big Chinese-funded deals, in a major policy revamp as it scrambles to complete projects before Duterte's term ends in 2022.

Duterte has come under pressure to deliver on his government's promise of ushering in the "golden age of infrastructure," which it has partly done through cheap loans from Japan and from China, the country's maritime rival which the president has courted for investments.

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