The Federal Republic of Germany has earmarked a total of 8 million euros (roughly P512 million) to finance two development cooperation programs aimed at protecting Philippine forests and watersheds, particularly in the Visayan regions.
The assistance is part of a recently signed financial cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Germany to further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zenaida Angara-Collinson said.
"Since 1961, the German government has been a Philippine partner in development, with official development assistance (ODA) extended in the form of loans under the Financial Cooperation (FC) program and grants under the Technical Cooperation (TC) program," Collinson said.
"All projects approved under the Development Cooperation put high priority on poverty alleviation, good governance, and increasing public-private partnership in development," she added.
She said the 8 million euros will be channeled to the community-based forest management in the Visayas to assist the government in alleviating poverty, protecting forests and watershed in the region, and providing livelihood to local communities. She added that the program is patterned after then late President Elpidio Quirino’s forestry program.
Collinson disclosed that under the financial agreement, the third phase of the study and expert fund will carry out the preparation and implementation of projects under FC, assignment of experts for the projects and the preparation of feasibility studies.
She said the agreement also provides re-programmed funds amounting to €22.27 million euros to finance small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) importation of capital and intermediate goods and the local government unit’s investment program.
Part of the funds will be used for the procurement of medical and non-medical equipment to improve the health infrastructure and medical services in Eastern Visayas and the electrification of villages through the use of wind and hydro power energy.
Collinson and German Ambassador to the Philippines Axel Weishaupt signed the 2005 financial cooperation agreement last July 14 in simple ceremonies at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Bulwagang Blas F. Ople in Pasay City.
Among those who witnessed the signing were officials of the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Finance, Department of Natural Resources, Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau. (Charissa Luci)
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