21 Nov New Zealand to Donate US$3M To Aid Peace Efforts in Mindanao
In a press conference held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City last November 16, 2016, New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan said that they want to be involved in contributing sustainable livelihood among combatants and affected families in conflict-stricken areas in Mindanao. With this, New Zealand wants to donate US$3 million over the next 3 years after seeing immense development in the peace efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Strachan mentioned about their involvement in the project of the Food and Agriculture Organization in North Cotabato which supports 10,000 households in at least 15 barangays in 5 municipalities of North Cotabato, and currently, implements a similar program in Maguindanao which supports 20,000 households.
He also mentioned that they are also assisting 2 barangays in Agusan del Sur for the purpose of integrating the school disaster risk reduction plans to disaster-prone areas training almost 4,000 students in disaster risk reduction awareness, preparedness, and risk assessment.
Strachan added that they are providing support to the dairy farm project of the National Dairy Authority in Cagayan de Oro through supplying cows and sharing New Zealand’s dairy expertise and technology, along with supporting the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology through curriculum development and training of dairy farmers.
Finally, Strachan said that they also support the US Department of Agriculture-funded Agricultural Cooperative Development International-Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance program which helps the indigenous people in developing productive coffee farms.
Source: MindaNews
No Comments