Indigenous Aeta guides on the slopes of Mt Pinatubo. This active volcano holds considerable ecotourism potential.
Note: Click for enlargement of map.
Philippines
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Snapshot
The Republic of the Philippines comprises over 7,000 islands which lie north of Indonesia and south of Taiwan. The country is divided into three main island groups: Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the centre, and Mindanao in the south.
The Philippines is home to more than 90 million people who speak nearly 100 different ethnic languages and dialects. Around 33 percent of the population lives in poverty, particularly those in rural areas and in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. There are also pockets of severe poverty in the comparatively well-off greater Manila urban area.
NZAID priorities
A key priority for NZAID during 2009 will be to review the expiring country strategy and complete the development of a new strategy, to shape NZAID's engagement in the Philippines over the next five years.
In developing a new strategy, NZAID will work closely with the Government of the Philippines, non-government organisations (NGOs) and civil society, and we expect the Philippines National Economic Development Authority to be represented on the team developing an updated strategy.
NZAID on the ground
Human rights
Under the Government Agencies Fund New Zealand provided a total of NZ$980,000 for the implementation of a three-year joint project between New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the Commission on Human Rights Philippines. The three-year programme was designed with a particular focus on three predominantly indigenous communities and the key agencies of the State (Police and Military) that most impact on human rights of people in these communities. Expected outcomes will include the ability of communities to better monitor and report human rights violations and better advocate for the realisation of their rights, better integration of human rights standards and practices into the operations of key state agencies as well as strengthen the capability of CHRP and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to promote and protect the human rights of indigenous peoples.
Supporting the Philippines national police
Following the signing of Memorandum of Arrangements witnessed by the previous Prime Minister, Hon Helen Clark and President Gloria Arroyo in May 2007, the respective police agencies of New Zealand and Philippines agreed to enhance police cooperation through conduct of training by New Zealand Police for the Philippine Police on topics of basic ethics and human rights, instructor development, critical incident management techniques, community policing, and basic investigation. NZAID provided NZ$120,000 to fund the one-year programme.
NZAID also provided funds for related activity on women in policing entitled 'Gender is Smart Management' where high level policy makers in the Philippine Police and mid-level managers responsible for enforcing the law were given training with focus on the role of women and gender in police work and legal platforms.
Natural resource management
NZAID and the Philippine Department of Environment commenced the Camiguin Coastal Resources Management Programme in mid-2007. This programme aims to address the complex issue of how to manage coastal resources in a sustainable manner while stimulating economic activity. Camiguin is located in Mindanao and is one of the Philippines' poorest provinces.
Indigenous people
NZAID supports a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) led initiative to improve basic education, health and nutrition outcomes for the mainly indigenous people of Mountain Province in northern Luzon.
A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) led initiative, supported by NZAID, assists indigenous communities that have secured ancestral land rights to formulate and implement their ancestral domain sustainable development and protection plans.
Governance
NZAID funding was recently approved for UNDP sponsored research and policy work on institutions, politics and human development in the Philippines.
Conflict resolution and peace building
Due to the legacy of conflict in the region, the people of Mindanao are among the most disadvantaged people in the Philippines. In 2004, NZAID began contributing to a World Bank-managed Multi-Donor Trust Fund for reconstruction and development of conflict-affected parts of Mindanao. Substantial support continues to be provided to a UNDP coordinated 'Action for Conflict Transformation' (ACT) for Peace Programme. ACT is the successor phase of the Philippine-UN Multi-Donor Programme for Peace and Development in Mindanao of which NZAID was a consistent supporter. Aside from building on Multi-Donor programme successes, ACT also aims to prevent the emergence of potential conflicts. Some of the NZAID funding is targeted to the 'at risk' Caraga region.
Human resource development
New Zealand Development Scholarships or NZDS (study awards for postgraduate courses in New Zealand) are currently the single largest component of NZAID's Human Resource Development Programme in the Philippines.
Twelve scholarship awards are provided every year for deserving Filipino students to study Post Graduate or Masters programmes that are aligned with governance, indigenous, and natural resource management themes.
Emergency assistance
New Zealand provided NZ$100,000 to help relief efforts in the country following the damage brought by Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) in June 2008 through the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). The funds were used for PNRC's relief work in the Aklan, one of the provinces hit hardest by the typhoon.
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