Canada will provide C$1.7 million, or around P74.5 million, to support Philippine communities in preventing the exploitation and recruitment of children by criminal and terrorist groups.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced the funding during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference with Canada held in Pasay City on Wednesday.
The assistance was among several funding initiatives announced by Canada as part of its continued partnership with ASEAN, which also includes programs on security, cybersecurity, and transnational crime prevention.
“Over the last three years, under Canada and ASEAN’s strategic partnership, we have seen strengthened engagement in all of these areas, and we will continue to deepen engagement on security priorities such as maritime security, cybersecurity, and transnational crime, including cyber enabled fraud and drug trafficking,” Anand said.
Aside from the child protection program, Canada also announced C$4.5 million to strengthen non proliferation and biosecurity capacities in the region, and C$490,000 to support women’s leadership initiatives during the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship.
Anand also cited other regional assistance programs, including a C$217,000 initiative with Laos to strengthen efforts against money laundering and fraud, and C$455,000 to promote fair and ethical recruitment systems for migrant workers.
“Canada’s strong engagement with ASEAN reflects a simple truth: our prosperity and security at home are deeply linked to developments in the Indo Pacific,” she said.
During the meeting, ASEAN and Canadian officials discussed the need to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, food security, cybersecurity, and energy security.
The ministers also welcomed the 23 percent increase in ASEAN Canada bilateral merchandise trade over the past year, reaching USD52.4 billion, and expressed confidence that the new ASEAN Canada Plan of Action would further expand economic cooperation between the two sides.
Photo courtesy of Immigration Canada
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