Canada donates P757M for education, health programs in Philippines

The Canadian government on Thursday donated P757 million (Can$18.9 million) to the Philippines to augment health and education programs in the Asian country, which will be implemented over the next five years.

These initiatives will support the rebuilding of  Philippine economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, empower women and children, as well as uplift the lives of vulnerable communities in Mindanao.

“Canada stands together in solidarity with the Filipino people in the face of unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the negative physical, mental, social and economic effects many are experiencing each day,” Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur wrote in a statement.

In addition, MacArthur said the donated funds will help build sustained peace in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Philippine projects that would receive donated funds from Canadian government include:

• Education initiatives in Parañaque, Taguig and Pateros led by non-government organization Save the Children and in partnership with the Department of Education.
• Improve education in Grades 4 to 6 children in BARMM, led by Vancouver British Columbia-based Big Bad Boo Studios Inc., in coordination with Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education
• Health care programs of Canada-based non-governmental organization Inter Pares and its Philippine partner the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health to help more than 54,000 women and girls in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces
• Medical programs by the United Nations Population Fund in at least 10 municipalities in Calabarzon
• Empowerment and inclusive governance initiatives implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) to support resilience and inclusion through investment for sustainable agriculture in the BARMM and in Davao Region
• Philippine Business for Social Progress' program to advance gender equality and women’s rights across the Philippines
• Forum of Federations' program to promote sustained peace in Bangsamoro by supporting the governance capacity of BARMM officials

—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News