28 November 2014 - The Philippines and Canada held the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) from November 24 to 25 in Ottawa, Canada. The Philippine delegation was headed by Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan P. Garcia while the Canadian delegation was led by Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific Susan Gregson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.
Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Canada have followed an upward trajectory over the last 65 years, supported by expanding trade and investments, increasing official exchanges and people-to-people ties, stronger development cooperation, as well as growing political and security relations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
The Second JCBC Meeting was fruitful and constructive, featuring comprehensive and open discussions. During the meeting, the JCBC looked into fresh prospects for cooperation, particularly in education, public-private partnership (PPP), agriculture, and disaster risk management. Both sides expressed the hope to make progress in these areas in the coming months.
The Meeting also considered frameworks that would spur future actions, namely the Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) for the Philippines as a Country of Focus for Canada’s development assistance, the Philippines’ priority status under the Global Markets Action Plan (GMAP), and memoranda of understanding on security cooperation and on occupational health. A Joint Plan of Action for education cooperation between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) was also signed.
Canada is a close friend and active partner who has stood by the Philippines for the past six decades. Canada was among the first countries to offer humanitarian assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of recent natural disasters that hit the country including typhoons Haiyan and Glenda, and the Bohol earthquake. Canada has also provided humanitarian assistance in post-conflict areas and given support for the Philippines’ peace process and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, particularly in the setting up of the Independent Policing Commission for the Bangsamoro.
The JCBC was formed in 2012 as a mechanism to regularly review progress in bilateral cooperative activities and explore opportunities for future collaboration. The first JCBC was held in Manila on 05 February 2013.
Also in attendance during the Second JCBC Meeting were Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia, the Heads of Post of the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver and other officials of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan; CHED Commissioner Minella Alarcon; and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Agriculture, NEDA and CHED.
Prior to the Second JCBC Meeting, Undersecretary Evan Garcia participated in the Sixth Annual Halifax International Security Forum on November 22 in Nova Scotia. The annual Halifax International Security Forum brings informed leaders from government, business and academe, among others, in an informal and interactive setting, to consider international security issues with the view towards building democracy, creating opportunity and promoting peace. END