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November 20, 2001

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the “the Participants;”

Desiring to further expand and enhance the existing friendly relations between their Peoples, on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit;

Recalling the discussions and coordination activities of the Office of Civil Defense of the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States of America; and

Desiring to further cooperative activities in disaster prevention and management through a framework of collaboration that facilitates the exchange of expertise, knowledge, and information, and the transfer of new technology in emergency management.

Have reached the following understandings:

ARTICLE 1
GENERAL COOPERATION OBJECTIVES

The Participants intend to pursue cooperative activities in disaster prevention and management, including:

1. Designing and initiating prototypes of cooperation that aim to strengthen the emergency management linkages between the Participants as well as enhancing the emergency management capabilities of the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines;

2. Organizing the exchange of emergency management professionals and practitioners in order to facilitate the development of programs and activities, including the sharing of expertise, experience, and information as well as the transfer of new technology in emergency management; and

3. Proposing the conduct of forum and training seminars, reciprocal visits, and disaster management exercises to be participated in by the representatives of the Participants.

ARTICLE 2
COOPERATION IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TRAINING EXERCISES

In the field of emergency preparedness and response training and exercises, the Participants may:

1. Facilitate the exchange of emergency management experts and instructors for the development of training modules and instructional materials that promote best practices in emergency management; and

2. Participate in emergency management training programs, seminars, workshops, and simulation exercises.

ARTICLE 3
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION

In the field of information exchange, scientific and technical cooperation, the Participants plan to:

1. Facilitate the exchange of emergency management information and transfer of technology for effective disaster management and prevention, and emergency preparedness and responses:

2. Exchange information on lessons learned from emergency responses of the Participants to natural and man-made disasters, including technology-related emergencies; and

3. Fac­ilitate the exchange of knowledge and information on natural and man-made hazards and risk management.

ARTICLE 4
IMPLEMENTING AND SUBSEQUENT ARRANGEMENTS

1. The Participants should directly communicate through the Office of the Civil Defense, as the Executive Agency of the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States of America, and should initiate meetings to plan and develop annual program activities.

2. Subject to authority and the availability of funds and resources, the Participants may decide to formulate and implement, on the basis of subsequent arrangements between them pursuant to this Protocol of Intentions, work plans for the annual program activities.

ARTICLE 5
AMENDMENT

The Participants may, by written agreement through diplomatic channels, decide to amend or revise any provision of this Protocol of Intentions. The activities under any such amendment or revision should commence in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.

ARTICLE 6
COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

Activities under this Protocol of Intentions commence on the date of the latter written communication by the Participants through diplomatic channels, indicating compliance with their respective domestic legal requirements.

ARTICLE 7
VALIDITY

This Protocol of Intentions should remain valid for a period of three years from the date of the commencement of activities and should remain valid for subsequent periods of two years, unless either Participant notifies the other Participant, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate the same in writing. Such termination should take effect after three months following the receipt by such other Participant of the said notice.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, have signed this Protocol of Intentions.

DONE at Washington, on the 20th day of November 2001, in duplicate, in the English language.