MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government on Tuesday secured a RMB27.52 million (approximately P226.93 million or $4.36 million) Chinese grant that aims to modernize the Philippines’ hybrid rice center. In a statement released on Friday, the Department of Finance said the agreement will boost the country’s palay production. Related Stories Philippines gets China loan for Chico River Pump Irrigation ProjectThe deal will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture and will cover Phase III of the Technical Cooperation Project for the Philippines’ Agricultural Technology Center. This aims “to contribute in boosting the rice production capacity of the Philippines towards rice sufficiency by upgrading the Philippine Sino Center for Agricultural Technology’s hybrid rice technology research and demonstration center into a Modern Hybrid Rice Breeding Station and Technology Demonstration Center,” the DOF said. Despite Duterte's warm relations with China, the Philippines has a long history of mistrust of it as the two countries continue to spar over the South China Sea.

Source: Philippine Star April 13, 2018 07:18 UTC