The Philippines is expecting from France 200,000 euros (P12 million) worth of assistance as Paris is helping Manila attain food security for needy children.
French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou made the announcement on Tuesday night as she concluded her three-day visit to Manila, where she met various Philippine officials to pursue ongoing partnership between the two countries.
French Minister Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (Photo courtesy of French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz)
Speaking before reporters at the French Residence in Makati City, Zacharopoulou said France noted "there is problem" that partly contributes to the reason why some children cannot go to school.
"Many children, they don't go to the school, because they have to work. Unfortunately, this is against the children's rights... They don't have access to the schools because of food," she said.
France will help the Philippines in providing meals to school children by funding the World Food Programme's (WFP's) "School Meals Coalition."
"This coalition guided by France and Finland with the WFP is very important because we need to use everything to give access to food to the children," Zacharopoulou said.
Paris will also work with Manila in achieving food security through agriculture, the French minister said.
Zacharopoulou said technical teams from both sides are now working together on a roadmap for sustainable agriculture, which she said France has "big tradition" on.
French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz said agriculture is "one of the priority areas" that France would want to pursue in the country.