Canada envoy distributes aid to Panglao, Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - Canada ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder on Saturday led the distribution of various donations and assistance to the local government of Panglao, Bohol.

“Canada has been a strong partner of the Philippines in general and Bohol in particular in various forms of development and cooperation,” Reeder said during the turnover of sports equipment (bicycles), educational materials (books), medical equipment (optical and dental) from the Rotary of Canada and the Rotary World Help program.

The turnover ceremony, held at the town’s gym, was attended by Representative Rene Relampagos, Mayor Leonila Montero, Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes, Provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, Department of Education teachers and parents, and physicians and nurses, including those from the Provincial Health Office.

Reeder said Canada was one of the first countries to give money and pledged assistance to Bohol “in relief and early recovery” after the 2013 earthquake.

“I personally visited Bohol with Irene (his wife) months ago to look over programs for earthquake relief that had been funded by Canada and to personally present certificates of home ownership to 500 families who lost their houses during the earthquake,” the ambassador said.

He added that Canada is also helping Bohol’s “tourism infrastructure through programs to train those working in tourism sector,” including micro-tourism projects such as the Bohol Children’s Choir, the Bohol Bee Farm and Loboc River Cruises.

The Philippines “is one of only 25 countries of focus of Canada’s development cooperation programs and we are very active in programs to generate jobs and economic growth and to reduce poverty throughout the country,” Reeder said.

The ambassador told The Freeman that the Philippines is the third largest sources “for new Canadians” with some 30,000 permanent residents and 50,000 Filipinos working in Canada with temporary labor permits.  (FREEMAN)