Makati city: Canada is investing more than 76.4 million Canadian dollars (about PHP3.2 billion) in 12 new development projects in the Philippines, the country's Minister for International Development announced Friday. The initiatives will focus on disaster risk reduction and resilience, water and food security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and boosting energy security.
According to Philippines News Agency, Canada will work with local partners to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services, address malnutrition and stunting, and provide resources for children affected by conflict through the funding. In a media roundtable in Makati City, visiting Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai described the investment as one of Canada's largest since launching its Indo-Pacific Strategy.
'Canada stands alongside the Filipino people as partners in building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future,' he said. 'These new investments reflect our deep commitment to supporting local leadership, especially women and communities on the front lines of climate change and development. Together, we are strengthening disaster preparedness, expanding access to health, and unlocking economic opportunities that benefit both our countries.'
The 12 new projects include initiatives such as Climate Resilient Agri-Food Trade Promotion Support (CRAFTS) and Economic Linkages for Enhance Value, Trade and Exports (ELEVaTE), each receiving CAD 5 million and running from 2025 to 2031. Disaster Resilient and Climate Adaptive Food Systems (DRCAFS) will receive CAD 9.1 million to strengthen food systems for at least 15,000 smallholder farmers in climate-vulnerable communities in Northern Luzon and Eastern Visayas.
Other projects include initiatives on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, addressing stunting, peace education for conflict-affected children, and sustainable energy security. From 2023 to 2024 alone, Canada provided CAD45.82 million in international assistance to the Philippines, marking it as the country's 6th largest donor.
Over the years, Ottawa's assistance has provided substantial benefits, including access to family planning services for 65,994 Filipino women and training for 13,349 community educators in reproductive health and prevention of gender-based violence. The development ties have also supported smallholder cacao farmers, increased income and yields by 50 percent, and improved market access for 77 percent of them.
Canadian-funded nature-based solutions have aided in protecting about 534,000 hectares of seascape, launching at least 15 biodiversity enterprises. 'The Philippines is one of the countries of priority that Canada wants to help develop and increase our relationships with,' Sarai said. 'We're the sixth, top six donor country for the Philippines - it's a high priority, and we would like to continue that growth. I think there's a lot of potential between our two countries.'
