The Philippines and Canada recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeking to empower women in the country. The MOU was signed by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Romulo L. Neri (second from right) on behalf of the Philippine government and Ambassador Peter Sutherland (second from left) on behalf of Canada. Under the agreement, the Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will grant some PhP315 million to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) for the five-year Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women) project. The project, which starts in November and runs until 2011, aims to support and promote the economic well-being of women through increased access to trainings, credit, technology and microenterprises. Also present during the signing ceremony at the Richmonde Hotel, Ortigas Center were CIDA Head of Aid Tom Carroll (seated, extreme right) and NCRFW Chairperson Myrna T. Yao (seated, extreme left). Looking on are (from left) Fronie Dumlao of NCRFW and Myrna Jarilla, CIDA Senior Program Officer.

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