PHL, Germany sign P500-M aid package

To help the Philippines improve on peace development, conflict prevention and environment protection, the Federal Republic of Germany is extending a technical and economic assistance package of nearly P500 million.   A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both governments at the conclusion of the 2011 Philippines-Germany Governmental Dialogue on Nov. 15, said NEDA Deputy Director-General Rolando Tungpalan on Wednesday.   German and Philippine officials have agreed to do a comprehensive evaluation of each project before releasing any money, Tungpalan said.   “We see this dialogue as a continuing commitment of the German Government to uphold the principles of the Paris Declaration,” said Tungpalan, referring to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.   New allotments worth P278 million for bilateral technical cooperation are included in the aid package, plus P205 million worth of financial and technical cooperation funds for four ongoing programs being implemented with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the KfW Development Bank, according to the agreement.   “Among the priority areas of cooperation outlined in the MOU are peace development, conflict prevention and the environment,” said Tungpalan, who led a government team in a dialogue with officials from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).   Dr. Josef Füllenbach, head of BMZ Southeast Asia Department led the German panel.   Also, up to P29 million will be made available by the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety for a low carbon development project in the Philippines and Turkey. — VS, GMA News