European Commission Approves 14m Euros in Grant Funding for Philippines

The European Commission yesterday approved its 2007 “action programme” of development cooperation funding for the Philippines, covering three major actions amounting to a total of € 14 million (Php 880 million) in European Community grant funding.

Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines said that this funding reaffirms EU’s continued commitment to further boost efforts of the country to promote poverty reduction through equitable growth.

“The European Community is bent on helping the Philippines in its economic, social and political reform processes, by providing support to deepen dialogue on governance with and among all sectors of society, to promote trade and investment flows, and to help restore peace and security in Mindanao “, he said.

The 2007 Action Programme is the first contribution under the EC’s Indicative Programme for assistance to the Philippines for the period 2007-10, amounting to € 61 million in total over the four years (Php 3.8 billion). These programmes have been developed in consultation with the government (and with civil society) to support the Philippines Medium Term Development Plan 2004–2010.

The 2007 programme covers three actions:

* Strategic Projects Facility (SPF II), which will contribute to improving governance as an underlying condition for reaching the Millennium Development Goals. This will also help to ensure better delivery of services to the poor through decentralised local governments. (€ 6.5 million, or Php 410 million.)
* Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA II), which will enhance capacity of selected Government agencies and non-state actors in the Philippines to achieve deeper integration into the international trading system. This will also further strengthen the link between trade and investment and good governance, and the dialogue between government and civil society. (€ 6.5 million, or Php 410 million.)
* A second contribution to the Mindanao Trust Fund, which will support the reconstruction and development of conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. This will address poverty as a root cause of conflict, in order to help ensure a peaceful basis for development and growth in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. (€1 million, or Php 60 million.)

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