Tuesday, February 27, 2007 RP, among top priorities of dev't aid: Aussie envoy
AUSTRALIAN Ambassador to the Philippines Tony Hely revealed that the country is among the top priorities of the land down under in its assistance development programs.
The Philippines, Hely said, receives an annual aid amounting to over P2.6 billion, 60 percent of which goes to Southern Philippines.
He said Australia will be doubling its assistance development programs in the next three years.
"It is natural for neighbors to be helping each other," Hely told Sun.Star Davao.
The main thrust of the aid provided by the Australian government is to make basic education and healthcare services more accessible to the Filipino people.
"We wish to improve the income of the people in the rural areas," Hely said.
They are lending a supportive hand to non-government organizations (NGO), people's organizations (PO), and even the local government units (LGU).
However, the development assistance is not simply given away by the Australian government.
They provide assistance to organizations or people with the will to help themselves, either through participation or partnership.
One of the projects of the Australian government in the country is the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (Pacap).
For the past 20 years, Pacap helped the various NGOs, POs, and LGUs in the reduction of poverty and in the promotion of sustainable and equitable development in the country.
Pacap continues to support community-initiated, economically sustainable, ecologically sound, and gender responsive development projects through direct funding assistance and multi-level capability building in partnership with local organizations.
The ambassador was in the city to grace the opening ceremonies of the 20th year celebration of Pacap in the country held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City from February 21 to 23. (CPM)
