The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Canada is investing more than CAD 76.4 million (around ₱3.2 billion) in 12 new development initiatives in the Philippines, focusing on disaster resilience, food and water security, energy stability, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the country’s Minister for International Development announced Friday.
Visiting Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said the funding will also support expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services, combat malnutrition and stunting, and provide resources for children affected by conflict.
“Canada stands alongside the Filipino people as partners in building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future,” Sarai said during a media roundtable in Makati City. “These new investments reflect our deep commitment to supporting local leadership, especially women and communities on the front lines of climate change and development.”
Among the 12 projects, the Climate Resilient Agri-Food Trade Promotion Support (CRAFTS), with CAD 5 million from 2025 to 2031, will support growth of SMEs in the processed food sector.
The Economic Linkages for Enhanced Value, Trade and Exports (ELEVaTE), also CAD 5 million from 2025 to 2031, aims to boost women-led SMEs internationally. Disaster Resilient and Climate Adaptive Food Systems (DRCAFS), with CAD 9.1 million from 2025 to 2032, will strengthen food systems for 15,000 smallholder farmers in climate-vulnerable areas.
Other projects include Building Capacities for Eco-Resilience in the Philippines (CAD 3.1M, 2025-2032), Addressing Stunting in the Philippines (CAD 7.1M, 2025-2029), Isla Maganda “Beautiful Island”: Peace Education for Conflict-Affected Children (CAD 3.1M, 2025-2029), Sustainable and Transformative Action to Realize SRHR (STARS, CAD 7.1M, 2025-2031), Building Resilience through Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (BRIDGE, CAD 3.7M, 2025-2029), Agsama Kape (Together for Coffee, CAD 9.1M, 2025-2030), Empowering Stewardship in the Coral Triangle (CAD 11.15M, 2025-2029), Energy is the Key to a Climate Stable Future (Enerkey, CAD 11M, 2025-2030), and Toward Sustainable Energy Security in ASEAN (CAD 2M, 2025-2028).
Canada has been a key development partner of the Philippines. From 2023 to 2024, it provided CAD 45.82 million in assistance, ranking as the country’s sixth-largest donor. Canadian support has helped nearly 66,000 Filipino women access family planning services, trained over 13,000 community educators on reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention, and improved the income and market access of smallholder cacao farmers.
“Philippines is one of the countries of priority that Canada wants to help develop and increase our relationships with,” Sarai said. “We’re the sixth top donor country for the Philippines – it’s a high priority, and we would like to continue that growth. There’s a lot of potential between our two countries.”