Germany to focus on developmental projects in Mindanao

CEBU, Philippines – After 10 years of pouring its support in the Visayas region, next year the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Cooperation (GDC) will focus its support on projects in Mindanao.

Ralph Timmermann, counselor and deputy head of Mission of the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in Manila, said that his government has made reforms this year, and starting next year, support will be centered on environment and peace and order developments in Mindanao, especially in Caraga region.

In 2009, the German government allocated a total of P1.2 billion (19.5 million Euros) for its diverse developmental support for the Visayas. The budget allocation for 2010 was also reduced to P1.05 billion.

Timmermann said while GDC programs in the Visayas are already established and successful, it is now time to shift to another focus of support, which is also based on the Philippine government's bilateral agreement with the German government.

The German's official bilateral development cooperation consists of technical, financial and human resource instruments that are carried out by different organizations.

Timmerman added that the German government's support for Mindanao next year may be Germany's last project in the country, as the German government is slowly pulling out its bilateral development cooperation support to the Philippines.

Jochem Lange, country director for GTZ Philippines and the Pacific said that assurance of support from the different donor ministries in Germany is very volatile.

Besides, he said while the projects that have been put in place are already successful and the Philippine government, specifically the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), can already replicate the same programs for sustainability, such as the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (Smedsep), Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership (Scope), financial cooperation with the Philippines (Kfw)--LGU Investment Program, the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS), value chain mapping and analysis of the health and wellness tourism sector in Cebu, environment and rural development programs, decentralization program and private sector promotion program, among others. (FREEMAN)