https://www.dof.gov.ph/?cat=0
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17/08/16
MESSAGE FROM THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR
The Italian Development Cooperation in the Philippines
With the launching of the “Call for proposal” for the new “DEBT- FOR-DEVELOPMENT SWAP PROGRAM”, Italy continues in the path of close cooperation with the Philippines, in the spirit of a strong friendship that traditionally links our countries and our peoples.
This new exciting program, for an amount of about 3 M Euros will finance projects targeting specifically:
Poverty reduction; Socio-economic development Environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources.
It falls well in line with a long, solid tradition, dating back to the beginning of the diplomatic relations between Italy and Philippines, born in 1947 with the signature of a friendship agreement between the two Countries, and continued with the first agreement of technical and scientific cooperation in 1969.
It was in 1987 that the new Italian Development Cooperation with the Philippines was launched with the signature of the first bilateral agreement, where an Italian soft loan of 85 M USD was made available for the development of sustainable irrigation systems.
That same year another soft loan of 70 M USD entered into force for the development of the energy sector in the Country.
In the 80s the cooperation between Italy and Philippines was so intensive that 15 bilateral agreements were signed in order to develop many sectors, including telecommunications.
During the 90s the Italian Development Cooperation was also active in the Philippines in the sector of energy, including geothermic – where Italy has unparalleled experience and technical capabilities – education and transport.
In the last 5 years the total ODA from Italy to the Philippines amounted to € 34,726,739.00.
This amount was allocated mainly in the framework of Bilateral Cooperation, while about 2 M euros were allocated in Multilateral cooperation, financing a project implemented by FAO in the Veterinary sector, so successfully that subsequently it was expanded to other neighbouring Countries (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar).
The largest bilateral program currently on-going is the “ITALIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM – IARCDSP” for a financed amount of over 26 M euros in soft loans, and 1.3 M in grant in technical assistance. This program total operative value amounts to 42 M Euros (equal to over 54 M USD).
The Department of Agrarian Reform is the executing Agency in collaboration with others Filipino Departments.
The program targets specifically :
Agricultural enterprise development support Community infrastructure development support Local capacity building support
We are very proud of this program, focusing on supporting integrated development projects in Mindanao and targeting Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, their families, their communities villages and cities. We expect they will be able to increase their incomes and quality of life, but also contribute to a better socio-economic general environment which should contribute to a positive solution of the historical problems of Mindanao, and facilitate the peace process.
Last but not least the Italian Cooperation has extended a helpful hand to the Filipinos in the last two years when two catastrophic typhoons have strongly hit areas of Mindanao destroying thousands of houses and infrastructures. At the end of 2011 and 2012 we sent emergency aid for about 700.000 Euros, also trough the International Red Cross.
The Italian Cooperation is currently operating in Philippines through a Development Cooperation Office located in the premises of the Embassy of Italy in Manila.
We will keep working hand in hand with our Filipino friends for a better tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Massimo Roscigno
Ambassador of Italy
