Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — The Philippines is now seeking aid from other countries after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the suspension of talks for financial aid with countries that called on the United Nations to investigate human rights conditions under his administration.

The Finance department said Sunday it is in “exploratory talks” with other countries that did not back the UN resolution to see if they can fill in funding for projects that would be hit by Duterte’s suspension order.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has previously revealed to the Senate that a €21 million (₱1.19 billion, at the current exchange rate of €1 = ₱56.78) loan from France for the Metro Manila bus rapid transit program and a $46 million (₱2.39 billion, at $1 = ₱51.89) loan from Germany that would fund climate change studies were among those affected by the suspension.

Vice President Leni Robredo said Duterte's suspension order "deprives" Filipino people of help.

"Iyong Bus Rapid [Transit] system, ang tagal-tagal na nitong pangarap, ‘di ba. Ang tagal nang pangarap lalo na ngayon na grabe na iyong traffic," Robredo said Sunday on her radio program. "Itong kontrata sa Germany na sinuspinde, iyon sana iyong isa sa magiging kontribusyon natin doon sa laban against climate change pero wala."

[Translation: We've long dreamed of a Rapid Bus Transit system, right. We've longed for it, especially now that we're experiencing terrible traffic ... The contract with Germany that was suspended, that could have been our contribution in the fight against climate change, but now it's gone.]

But Dominguez said Sunday that the French loan for the BRT cover technical assistance grants and “will not significantly affect the infrastructure program of the government.”

Dominguez said Sunday that the French loan cover technical assistance grants and “will not significantly affect the infrastructure program of the government.”

Dominguez has said that a substitute lender has been found, but in a new statement, he said that lending banks and other countries have only signified willingness to match funding that should have been provided by the French loan.

He added that these loans are offered at the same interest rates as loans from countries that backed the UN resolution.

Dominguez said the Philippines has a total of $197.03 million (₱10.22 billion) in ongoing grants from countries that backed the UN probe, including Australia, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany. He said these will not be affected, as Duterte’s suspension order only covers loans under negotiation and not those that are already being implemented.

Seventeen other member states of the UN Human Rights Council voted to adopt Iceland's resolution on July 11. They are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, and Uruguay. Fourteen other nations, including the Philippines and China, voted against the conduct of a probe. The remaining 15 abstained.

READ: What to expect from UN's review of Philippine drug war

At the UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. said the international body “is not free to interfere with the state and its defining function of protecting its citizens and stamping out its threats.”

Malacañang earlier said Duterte is "seriously considering" cutting diplomatic ties with Iceland. The President has repeatedly lashed out at the Nordic country as his administration maintained the Philippines will not allow UN investigators in the country.

Government data shows at least 6,600 people have been killed in anti-illegal drug operations since Duterte took office in July 2016. Aside from the drug killings, the 18 countries asked the UN to investigate the following rights abuses: enforced disappearances; arbitrary arrest and detention; intimidation, persecution of, or violence against critics, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, journalists, and lawyers; and restrictions on the freedoms of opinion and expression.

The Duterte government has argued it does not need the international community to intervene because it can investigate these cases, noting the murder conviction of three cops in the killing of then 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in a police operation in 2017. But human rights groups are saying it is not enough assurance justice will also be served in the cases of thousands of other victims.

CNN Philippines’ Melissa Luz Lopez, Xave Gregorio, Eimor Santos and Janine Peralta contributed to this report.

€1 = ₱56.78

$1 = ₱51.89