The Philippines government said it’s reviewing all deals signed with the private sector that may have put taxpayers at a disadvantage, a sign that President Rodrigo Duterte is taking the scrutiny of contracts beyond regulated utilities.
“I endorsed to the president a review of all contracts that may have onerous provisions,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told reporters in Manila on Monday. His department discovered a 40-year-old property deal outside Manila that needs to be looked at closely, Dominguez said.
Ayala Land tumbled 7%, its biggest drop in more than four years, while its parent Ayala Corp., whose water venture is under review following an earlier verbal tirade by Duterte, lost 6.6%. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 2.2% at the close in Manila, to its lowest in more than three months.
The president said Friday evening that he would review next a Manila rail transit contract awarded to Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., another shareholder of the Philippine capital’s water concessionaires. Metro Pacific closed 5.4% lower on Monday, falling for a fourth day.