30 August 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Dili reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Joint Cooperative Training on Infrastructure Development and Capacity-Building between the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Public Works (MPW) had officially kicked off last August 26.
Timor-Leste Minister for Public Works Gastão Francisco de Sousa led the opening ceremonies. The Philippine side was represented by DPWH Assistant Secretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Dr. Maria Catalina E. Cabral.
Officials from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Special Office in Timor-Leste, led by its Officer-in-Charge Richard S. Phelps, also attended the event. The funding for the 41-day training was provided by the ADB.
The training was an offshoot of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two executive agencies that was signed during the state visit of Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to the Philippines in June this year.
Pursuant to the MOU, a pool of trainers from the DPWH will conduct a series of training modules aimed at strengthening both the institutional and human resource capacities of the MPW in the areas of infrastructure planning, quality control and maintenance. To ensure that the trainings will be more relevant and useful to the participants, the course design has been customized to the realities and conditions of Timor-Leste.
The undertaking is in line with the Philippine Government’s continuing efforts to assist Timor-Leste in achieving its development goals. Such commitment was conveyed by Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste María Aileen H. Bugarin in her remarks during the opening ceremony of the training program.
“I strongly urge the participants to take a closer look at the relevant experiences and practices of the Philippines in the planning and implementation of its vital infrastructure projects. Decide which of our models are relevant and useful to your country’s needs and requirements. Do not limit your attention to our best practices, learn also from our mistakes. As mentioned by President Benigno S. Aquino III to Prime Minister Gusmão during the latter’s state visit to the Philippines, the mistakes that we made can also provide valuable insights and nuggets of wisdom which you may apply in your efforts to build a stable, peaceful and prosperous Timor-Leste,” Ambassador Bugarin said. END