RP eyes opportunities in Iraq’s infrastructure rehab

The Philippines and Iraq have agreed to intensify their cooperation in the areas of engineering and construction following a meeting between Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II and visiting Iraqi Minister for Housing and Construction Ma’an Addallah Ibrahim Sarsam.

This was announced yesterday by Roxas who said such a cooperation agreement would open the door for Filipino contractors and technical consultancy firms to participate in Iraq’s infrastructure rehabilitation programs.

It was revealed that there are plenty of opportunities for Philippine companies to participate in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

Roxas said, "Minister Sarsam and myself agreed there are tremendous opportunities for Philippine participation in the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of Iraq, particularly under the United Nations Iraq Oil-for-Food program.

Roxas added that Sarsam also informed him that phase 10 of the Oil-for-Food program has a total value allocation of $5.5 billion, with some $1.25 billion for food and the remainder for such facilities and services as housing, irrigation, medicines and medical supplies, rehabilitation of settlements, reconstruction and building of hospitals, as well as water and sewage treatment plants.

Roxas disclosed that the Iraqi delegation "specifically inquired about the Philippines’ capability to design and build housing and other community development projects for at least 500 settlements with schools, parks and playgrounds and shops, along with the supply of housing materials from doors, windows and even electrical conduits and sanitary fittings."

The Iraqi delegations also sought information on multi-disciplinary engineering courses in the Philippines and the training of construction workers and construction project managers and supervisors.

Roxas said that the DTI, through the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), would immediately set up a mechanism for the exchange of construction-related information with Iraq’s Ministry of Housing and Construction so that it can identify areas or projects in which Philippine and Iraqi construction and consultancy companies could cooperate.

Roxas added that the DTI would work closely with the Philippine Contractors Association (PCA) and other Filipino architectural, engineering, and management associations so they can link up with their Iraqi counterparts for possible strategic alliances and joint projects.