OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR MAR ROXAS
JOINT BLUE RIBBON AND TRADE COMMITTEE PROBE ON ZTE CONTRACT

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

NAIA3.

Power contracts with IPPs.

Mega-Pacific contract.

And now we have this ZTE contract.

Once again, we confront a project that has all the elements found in this contract and so many others like them that were problematic or overpriced.

When will we ever learn?

Is this a contract in search of a need, or is this a valid need searching for a solution? Amidst all the controversy of the "mystery man" and "mystery contracts," we have yet to establish beyond reasonable doubt, the most fundamental basis of this or any other project.

What is our need? What is the correct solution for this need? Is this contract the answer to our need? And are we paying the right price for this solution?

The burden is on the government and on those who advocated, negotiated and approved this contract. And that is the intent of our Committee for this hearing.