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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