January 29, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the signing of six agreements
between Canada and the Philippines. Under these agreements, the Government of
Canada will contribute $25 million over five years to support bilateral projects
in the areas of judicial reform, information and communication technology and
small business development. The Prime Minister witnessed the signing with the
President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is making her first
visit to Canada from January 29 to 30, 2002.
"The signing of these agreements signals the increasing importance and
broad scope of our relations with the Philippines," said Prime Minister
Chrétien. "They reflect the high priority that we both place on good
governance, security, education, and the growth of small business."
The Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Private Enterprise Accelerated
Resource Linkages Project II provides for continued cooperation on
phase two of a project that assists organizations which deliver support services
to businesses in the Philippines. The project aims to help small and
medium-sized enterprises contribute to economic growth in the Philippines.
Canada will provide $10 million over the next five years for the project. The
Memorandum was signed by the Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation
Susan Whelan and the Philippines’ Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning, Dante
Canlas.
The Letter of Intent on the E-Governance for Efficiency and Effectiveness
Project will promote cooperation on information and communication technology
(ICT) between the governments of Canada and the Philippines. This project aims
to strengthen the capability of key government agencies in the Philippines to
adopt ICT in order to improve government operations and the delivery of services
to the public. Canada will contribute $8 million over the next five years. The
Letter of Intent was signed by Minister Whelan and Secretary Canlas.
The Letter of Intent Concerning the Judicial Reform Support Program
confirms that Canada will contribute $7 million over the next five years to
support the Philippine Supreme Court’s Action Program for Judicial Reform,
2001-2006. The Action Program aims to foster transparent and accountable
governance through a more effective judicial system. The Letter of Intent was
signed by Minister Whelan and Secretary Canlas.
The Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and on Cooperation in the
Enforcement of Penal Sentences outlines the process by which prisoners in
both Canada and the Philippines will be able to serve their sentences closer to
their families in their own countries. The text for the treaty was initialled by
Canada’s Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) David Kilgour and the Philippines’
Ambassador to Canada Francisco Benedicto, confirming both countries’ intent to
finalize the treaty.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the Reciprocal Offer of Scholarships
will allow citizens of high academic standing from Canada and the Philippines to
undertake graduate studies, postgraduate studies or post-doctoral studies in the
other country. The Memorandum was signed by Secretary of State Kilgour and
Ambassador Benedicto.
The Letter of Intent on Co-hosting a Seminar on the Implementation of the
United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects confirms that the
two countries will co-host a seminar on combatting illicit trade in small arms
and light weapons in April 2002. The seminar will take place in the Philippines
and involve non-governmental organizations and officials from Southeast Asia and
other interested countries. The Letter of Intent was signed by Secretary of
State Kilgour and Ambassador Benedicto.
Funding for these initiatives was provided for in December 2001 Federal
Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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PMO Press Office (613) 957-5555
