Australia reaffirms commitment to help improve disaster preparedness of the country
Australia reaffirmed its commitment to work with Filipino experts in beefing up the country's preparedness in responding to disasters that “strike across the archipelago.”
Australia reaffirmed its commitment to work with Filipino experts in beefing up the country's preparedness in responding to disasters that “strike across the archipelago.”
In a statement read after meeting with President Benigno S. Aquino III as part of her State Visit to the Philippines in Malacañang Thursday morning, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia Quentin Bryce said Australia was ready to impart its knowledge and expertise on disaster preparedness as her country has had its share of “catastrophic natural disasters.”
“As a nation that understands the heartbreak and havoc of catastrophic natural disasters whether it be cyclones, floods, or fires, Australia is committed to continue its work with our Philippine partners to prepare and build community resilience for disasters which strike against across the archipelago,” Bryce said.
She also extended her country’s sympathies and condolences to the victims of typhoon Sendong that battered Mindanao last year.
“May I take this opportunity to add my own condolences to those of the Australian government's, for the devastating loss of life and destruction caused by tropical storm Sendong’s terrible flooding last December,” Bryce said.
She added that her country was pleased to have been part of relief efforts for the victims of the tragedy. (PCOO)
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Governor General Bryce cites exciting times for Philippine-Australia bilateral relations
Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia Quentin Bryce cited the “exciting time” the bilateral relations between Australia and the Philippines were in, saying that both countries stood to benefit from further strengthening of ties.
“It is clear that this is an exciting time in our bilateral relationship,” Bryce said in a statement read after meeting with President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang on Thursday.
“Both parties recognized that although we have much together, there is more that can be done by combining our efforts bilaterally, regionally, and globally. Australia looks forward to working with the Philippine government in the years ahead and we especially look forward to President Aquino’s visit to Australia later in the year,” she added.
The Governor General, who is visiting the Philippines for the first time in her current capacity, said that her meeting with the President centered on a range of bilateral activities between the two countries particularly “development cooperation programs, including work on disaster preparedness and response to security and defense cooperation, in trade and investments, to collaboration in regional and global fora.”
She said the development cooperation program “has now increased to the point where Australia is the Philippines’ largest bilateral grant aid donor.”
“We have aligned our aid programs so that it tracks closely with the President’s own priorities with our efforts focused on infrastructure, economic, governance, and poverty reduction,” Bryce said.
“Over the 66 years of our diplomatic ties, the bilateral relationship has matured into one which is both deep and broad—a relationship that is based on shared values and interests and one which brings tangible benefits to both nations,” she added. (PCOO)
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Philippines on track in achieving Millennium Development Goals, Aquino tells Bryce
The Philippines is on track in achieving the Millennium Development Goals particularly in education, health, women and children, President Benigno S. Aquino III told visiting Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia Quentin Bryce on Thursday.
The MDGs, which are goals set by the United Nations, are eight international development targets that all 192 UN member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015.
These goals are: to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality rate; improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.
In his speech after meeting with Bryce in Malacañang Thursday morning, President Aquino said his administration has made “significant progress” in achieving these goals.
“As part of our efforts to ensure that no Filipino is left behind, the Philippines is well on track in reducing the number of Filipinos who suffer from hunger and bringing down the mortality rate for infants and children under five-years-old and increasing the number of households who have access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities among others,” the President said.
“The government is intensifying efforts to accelerate progress in eradicating poverty, in providing universal primary education and improving maternal health,” he added.
He thanked the Australian government for generously providing technical and financial assistance which, he said, was key in aiding the country’s progress to achieving these goals.
“I am proud to share the significant progress we have made in obtaining the 2015 Millennium Development Goal targets—progress that signifies our gratitude to the people and government of Australia who have been generously providing both technical and financial assistance to our key MDG-related projects and programs through the Australian Agency for International Aid or AusAID,” the President said.
He stressed that the Philippines is committed to further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
“For 66 years, the Philippines and Australia have enjoyed a dynamic and fruitful partnership. It is one of the oldest, strongest, and most enduring partnerships in the Asia Pacific region rooted upon a firm foundation of trust, positive engagement, and shared values and ideals,” the President stressed.
“We remain committed to this partnership and to further harnessing its strength towards the achievement of the goals that our peoples share with the rest of the community of nations,” he added. (PCOO)
