Key takeaways:
- Canada pledges over ₱627 million for climate adaptation and health services in the Philippines.
- The grant, part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, focuses on nature-based solutions like reforestation and health initiatives targeting vulnerable communities.
- Discussions underway for a memorandum of understanding to broaden Canadian support, with emphasis on private sector involvement and cooperation in critical minerals.
Canada is giving a boost to the Philippines with a substantial grant of over ₱627 million for climate adaptation and health services. During his visit, Canada’s minister of international development, Ahmed Hussen, announced this significant commitment, aligned with the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Starting in 2024, the 15 million Canadian dollars (CA$) will be put to use, with a major portion, 8 million CA$ over five years, focused on helping vulnerable communities. This includes support for nature-based solutions like reforestation and coastal wetlands restoration to tackle climate change impacts. The initiative spans six key regions with high biodiversity.
Another part of the grant, 7 million CA$ over six years, will go towards supporting the implementation of the Philippines’ Universal Health Care Act and enhancing local government capacity. This effort specifically targets vulnerable groups in disaster-prone provinces.
Hussen emphasized that Canada’s development assistance in the Philippines is designed to align with and support the country’s national priorities, complementing and supplementing them as needed.
Under the broader Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Philippines plays a central role in Canada’s focus on diplomacy, trade, investment, and development. Discussions are underway for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that could broaden the scope of Canadian support, including areas like renewable energy and food security.
Hussen expressed enthusiasm about involving the private sector, saying, “We have the opportunity to leverage some of those additional dollars to also unlock private sector dollars from Canada and beyond to really deploy that in the Philippines. So, I’m quite excited about the opportunities.”
Canada also aims to deepen cooperation with the Philippines in the critical minerals sector. Canadian ambassador to the Philippines, David Hartman, emphasized the importance of responsible mineral extraction for the global green energy transition.
Acknowledging the sensitivities surrounding extractive industries, Hartman stated, “We believe that we can provide capacity building to the government of the Philippines to help create the social license for the Philippines to be able to capitalize on the mineral wealth that exists in this country.”
The relationship between Canada and the Philippines, spanning 75 years in 2024, is set to see more high-level exchanges. A potential visit by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Canada later in the year could open doors to new projects and initiatives.
In 2023, Canada provided a dark vessel detector to the Philippines, free to use for the next five years. Anticipated for 2024 is the signing of the MOU on defense cooperation, enhancing the strategic partnership between the two nations.◼
Business Bayani PH 
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