10 August 2004 - Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert today signed the European Commission’s (EC) National Indicative Programme (NIP) for the Philippines for 2002-2004 and 2005-2006, and financing agreements of two (2) EC-assisted Good Governance Programmes.   H.E. Johannes de Kok, Head of the EC Delegation in the Philippines, signed for the EC.

During her remarks, Secretary Albert thanked EC for its consistent support to Philippine efforts through development cooperation projects.

“EU is a major partner in the Philippines’ nation-building efforts”, Secretary Albert said. “EC-Philippine development cooperation focuses on poverty alleviation in rural areas with several multi-sector interventions in the poorest provinces of the country. The EC's development cooperation projects likewise target the promotion of good governance and transparency in the management of public affairs.”

“The National Indicative Programme outlines the objectives and priority fields for cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Philippines for a particular period,” Secretary Albert explained.  “It aims to support sustainable economic, social and environmental development projects in the Philippines.  The Programme earmarks a total amount of Euro 63 million (Euro 18 million for 2002-2004 and 45 million for 2005-2006) which will be allocated to priority areas of cooperation, i.e. assistance to the poorest sectors of society, trade and investment, and good governance.”

“The two EC-assisted programmes are "Access to Justice for the Poor" and "Corruption Prevention".  Under these FAs, EC will allocate Euro 6,637,520, while the Philippines will provide a counterpart fund of Php 1,329,511,” the Secretary elaborated. “Theses programmes aim to increase access to justice for the poor and vulnerable groups in the selected provinces of the Philippines; and, prevent corruption in the Philippines by removing both grievances and the opportunities that contribute to terrorism and political violence, thus  improving service delivery to the poor and enhancing the country's standing partner for foreign investment and trade.”

The agreements are recent results of the Philippine-EC Framework Agreement concluded in 1984, which provides the basis for EU development cooperation.

Present during the signing were Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, Ambassadors of the EU Member States in the Philippines, officials of the EC Delegation and representatives from concerned agencies.- END