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December 14, 1988

Taking into account the positive evolution of the cultural, scientific and technical cooperation between the Philippines and France, the governments of both countries have decided to hold the meeting of the Joint Commission as provided for in Article XII of the accord on cultural cooperation dated November 19, 1978 and in Article III of the accord on scientific and technical cooperation dated November 18. 1978.

The first session of the Joint Commission on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Manila on December 12, 13, and 14, 1988, under the joint chairmanship of Mr. Menandro P. Galenzoga, Director General, Office of European Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Samuel Le Caruyer de Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The list of the members of both delegations appears as Annex A.

The meeting has paved the way for the evaluation of projects of cooperation already underway and the drawing up of future plans for other projects that are being outlined in the present Memorandum of Understanding.

I. BICENTENARY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND OF THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Both parties have expressed their interest in the organization of events in the Philippines to commemorate the Bicentenary of the French Revolution (henceforth referred to as the Bicentenary) and of the Declaration of Human Rights.

The activity of the Philippine Committee for the commemoration of the French Revolution has been acknowledged

II. COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

A. The Teaching of the French Language

Both parties are pleased with the existing French program in the Department of European languages of the University of the Philippines. To further strengthen this, both parties agree to work towards the establishment of a master's degree in French studies. For this purpose, scholarship for a doctoral degree will be granted by the French party to a faculty member of the Department.

Both parties are pleased with the perspectives offered by Philippine education in the higher levels concerning the study of the French language, in particular as a. field of specialization and as a way of reinforcing the scientific and economic cooperation between the two countries. They are particularly pleased to see the development of the teaching of French in the scientific research institute of Los Baños (IRRI, PCARRD, FNRRD, UBLB) and at the College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines.

Within the same framework, both parties will support the implementation of business French courses at the UP Department of European Languages, as well as in other institutions of higher learning.

Both parties are also pleased with the teaching of French in other Philippine institutions, notably at the De la Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, Lyceum of the Philippines, and at the Foreign Service Institute.

The French Party considers a privilege the possible development of the learning of French in other institutions of higher learning. Therefore, in order to satisfy various requests, the French party points out that France has proceeded with adequate reinforcement measures such as follows:

- 1 Linguistic Attache, assigned to the French Embassy as Coordinator in charge of reorienting and informing the French teachers;

- 3 French lecturers in Manila, one of whom teaches at the University of the Philippines;

- 1 lecturer at the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

With the assistance of these experts, supplemented by all other appropriate means (notably the allocation of training programs in France, the sending of pedagogical equipment, books and documentation), the French party declares its readiness to encourage all new initiatives aimed at promoting the teaching of the French language.

Special mention is made of the art contest in 1989, entitled "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in Action," endorsed by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), in celebration of the Bicentenary.

The program in favor of the French language will be carried out in close consultation with the Association of French Teachers in the Philippines and the Montaigne Foundation, whose recent creation has pleased both parties.

Both parties acknowledge with satisfaction the role of the Alliance Francaise of Manila and Cebu, two Philippine institutions subsidized by the French government, in extracurricular activities and in the cultural exchanges. Both parties will favor, in full respect of Philippine laws, the development of the Alliance Francaise.

B. The Ecole Francaise (The French School)

In recognizing the interest that the French School has for the French and Francophone community, the Philippine party expresses its willingness to facilitate the operation of this school, which was accredited in November 1982 by the then Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, in compliance with the general agreement on cultural cooperation

C. Academic Exchanges

Both parties will encourage the relations and exchanges between the INALCO Paris III and the University of the Philippines which both signed an agreement of cooperation in 1980.

The main objective of this cooperation, which could be extended to other universities on both sides, will be to promote the teaching of the Filipino language and culture in France. To this effect, both parties agree to set up an exchange program of scholars (teachers or students) who will take advantage of their stay in the host countries to complete their linguistic research activities and improve their practice of the language.

III. ARTISTIC EXCHANGES

A. Theater

1. Both parties confirm their interest in the visit to the Philippines of a French Director in 1989 or 1990, probably Mr. Didier Flamand, who will direct a French play translated into in Filipino, with Filipino artists, as well as conduct workshops for the training of actors.

2. After the visit of the French director, and based on consultations with him, the Philippine side will send to France a Filipino theater artist to work on the production of a play in French in 1990 or 1991.

3. Both parties will facilitate the coming of a young French mime artist who will participate in the Baguio Summer Arts Festival where he will perform and conduct workshops.

4. Both parties will do their utmost to arrange a performance tour for the mime artist Marcel Marceau.

5. The host Philippine agency for items 1, 2, and 4 will be the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

B. Music and Dance

1. Within the framework of the Bicentenary Commemoration, the French side will send a French conductor and/or soloist to perform with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and conduct workshops in the Philippines in 1989.

2. Both parties agree to study the possibility of presenting Ballet Philippines in France in 1990.

3. Both parties agree to study the possibility of presenting a French contemporary dance company in the Philippines preferably in August 1989.

4. Both parties plan on pedagogical cooperation centered on chamber music.

5. The University of the Philippines expresses its wishes to receive a string-instrument professor and to send to France one vocal ensemble in 1989 and one guitar ensemble in 1991.

6. The French side through the Center of World Cultures and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will welcome in 1990:

- a music and dance performance originating from Southern Philippines. Musical supervision would be handled by Professor Jose Maceda.

- a workshop on contemporary musical composition under Professor Maceda.

The two activities may be planned together or separately.

C. Visual Arts

1. Both parties will do their utmost to carry out pedagogical exchanges. For instance, a professor of the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts could conduct workshops in the UP. This visit could eventually be complemented by the visit of a Filipino professor/curator/artist to a French institution.

2. Both parties will present, at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in 1989, an exhibit on the Bicentenary.

3. Both parties agree to present in July 1990 an exhibit on modern and contemporary French art at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

4. Both parties will study the possibility of presenting in 1990 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila an exhibit of "Contemporary French Art from 1965 to 1985" which includes paintings, sculptures and sketches.

5. Both parties will study the possibility of mounting an exhibition on Filipino heritage in France in 1990 or later. The French asked the Philippine party for more detailed information in order to assist them in determining the host institution.

D. Exchange of Specialists

1. Both parties will facilitate pedagogical/artistic exchanges in the fields of music, dance, theater and visual arts with an average of three to four missions a year.

2. The French party will send an expert from the French Ministry of Culture for two to three weeks in 1989 so as to exchange views and collaborate with the Philippine Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts regarding the development of a larger organization on culture in the Philippines.

3. The French will offer each year a scholarship allocation for a total of 18 months for musical, theatrical, choreographical and visual arts techniques. The French party expresses its own preference for short-term technical training instead of long-term academic studies.

E. Broadcast Arts

1. Both parties will exchange print, video and audio materials related to the use of radio and television for culture and the arts.

2. The French side will send a French media expert who will organize a training workshop on cultural audio visual program in radio and television. Both parties will agree on follow-up activities through diplomatic channels.

3. The French party invites a person in charge of a radio station to come to France to set up a radio program about France.

4. Both parties have expressed a wish to see their television networks acquire and distribute French and Philippine television programs.

5. The French side emphasizes the interest re-transmission of major Bicentenary programs.

F. Cinema

1. Both parties are pleased with the showing of French films in cultural and pedagogical institutions in the Philippines.

2. Both parties are pleased with the collaboration between the Film Center of the University of the Philippine and the Training Center of V.A.R.A.N. association.

3. The Film Center has submitted an important program of full cooperation related to the celebration of the Bicentenary, which is under the review of the French side.

4. Both parties have agreed on the organization of French Retrospective on the Bicentenary.

5. A Filipino film scholar will be received by the French side provided he is admitted to the French film school.

6. The French side takes note of the request made by the UP Film Center to obtain facility and authorization for the UP Film Center to make their films on "Los Indios Bravos" in France beginning in 1989.

G. Literature

The French party will organize a book and magazine exhibition on the occasion of the 8th Bookfair Manila which will be held from 18-26 February 1989.

A book exhibition will also be organized in 1989 at the National Library, as part of the Bicentennial Celebration.

Both parties will study proposals favoring the exchange of writers and books. For example, a French writer could come to the Philippines in September 1989 while a Filipino writer could attend the Paris Book Fair in the same year.

IV. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION

The Philippine Government recognizes the advantages it may derive for the country's development from scientific and technical cooperation and expresses the hope that the Government of France can offer her expertise and training in the priority sectors in the Philippines, identified as follows: 1) Agriculture/Rural Development and Natural Resources, 2) Trade and Industry, 3) Social Services (including Health, Education, Housing and Other Services), 4) Infrastructure, and 5) Science and Technology.

The French side reaffirms its wi1lingness to contribute significantly to the development of the Philippines in the context of its priority concerns and without excluding other sectors of cooperation, the mutual interest of which could become evident in the coming years.

Both sides have decided to implement the priority projects of cooperation as listed in this Memorandum of Understanding. The projects shall be implemented under a strict calendar of execution and shall be subject to a thorough evaluation and upon completion of each project.

The Philippine Government recommends that these projects of cooperation should be closely linked with its Medium-Term Technical Assistance Program (MTTAP), which is a compendium of Philippine priority technical assistance projects for the medium term.

A. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Both sides have jointly agreed to pursue the following activities:

1. Industrial crops (coconut, coffee, cacao, rubber)

a) Coconut

The Philippine side particularly the Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development PCAARD and Philippine Coconut Authority, PCA is requests France to help it formulate and implement a program of research and development on the coconut-based farming system, comprising particularly coffee and cacao.

The French side responds favorably to this request and proposes that a project be set up between Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Development (CIRAD) and the Philippine research institutes and agencies. An expert from the Research Institute for Oil and Oil Products (TRHO) could be sent to the Philippines in 1989. This program would also consist of French missions for assistance and training in France of Filipino specialists.

b) Coffee-cacao

The Philippine side wishes to obtain the aid of France in the establishment of a program for the production of germplasm through selection (creation of seed-bearing fields of cacao and coffee trees) and for the implementation of a program of cover crop cultivation mentioned above.

The French side approves of this request and proposes that a project be set up between CIRAD/Institut de Recherche du Cafe et du Cacao (IRCC) and the Filipino institutes and agencies concerned, to whom the appropriated means would be sent for a mission of French experts and training of Filipino specialists.

c) Rubber

Upon the request of the Philippine side, a mission composed of an agronomist and a technologist from the Institut de Recherche du Caoutchouc IRCA/CIRAD shall be dispatched to the Philippines at the start of 1989, at the completion of which a program of cooperation shall be set up between IRCA and the Filipino institutes and agencies concerned. This program shall have for its objective the extension of assistance for the rehabilitation of existing plantations and the improvement of natural rubber.

d) Finally, both sides shall study, according to guide lines still to be defined, possible actions of cooperation in new sectors.

2. Aquaculture

The Philippine side wishes to acquire French assistance for the implementation of the following:

- a training program (physiology, fish processing, evaluation of stocks)

- a research program which favors the exchange of information and researchers in the fields of parasitology (shrimps, shell-fish) and sea culture (Tilapia culture).

The French side has declared its readiness to respond to the entire set of requests presented by the Philippines and shall mobilize to this effect the French potential, both in France and overseas (French stations of Institut Francais de Recherches et d' Etudes de la Mer (IFREMER) and Office de Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outremer (ORSTOM) in Tahiti and Noumea). It emphasizes that the aquaculture sector represents a part of the Philippine's vast natural resources and hopes that there shall be opportunities for French investments in this field.

3. Agricultural Credit

Both sides agree to continue the exchanges undertaken in 1987 and 1988 in the field of agricultural credit. A mission of a French expert on the harmonization of policies for lending in the regional level shal1 be realized in 1989, and a Fi1ipino expert shall visit France in order to be acquainted with the operation of agricultural credit banks and agricultura1 chambers.

The Philippine side proposes the cooperation of the Government of France for the implementation of the project of the Department of Agriculture entitled "Collaborative Program of Training of Agricultural Extension Workers and Cooperative Agents".

The French side has agreed to study this proposal and shal1 communicate its decision through normal diplomatic channels within the first semester of 1989.

B. GEOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

Both sides agree to the implementation of the following cooperation program:

1. Within the framework of the Memorandum of Agreement signed in 1988 between the Universities of BREST and of NICE and the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences of the Philippines, a training program in the Philippines on structural geology and in France on geochemistry and geochronology shall be set up in 1989 and 1990 for the benefit of Filipino students and specialists.

2. A program shall be implemented by the University of Paris VI and the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) on one hand, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on the other, involving the study of the actions of the Philippine fault. It shal1 consist of training programs in geology and petrology, as well as the setting up of a warning system for the observation and monitoring of volcanoes.

3. A seminar on applied data-processing for mining shall be organized in Manila in 1989 by the International Center for Training and Exchanges in the Geosciences (CIFEG), in cooperation with French experts (notably from the BRGM) and Filipino specialists.

The Philippine side proposes the assistance of the Government of France in the implementation of the following projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources:

A. Satellite-Aided Geological Mapping Resources Assessment and Mineral Industry Development Plan for Mindanao;

B. Development of Geostatistic in the Philippines

The French side has agreed to study this proposal and shall communicate its decision through normal diplomatic channels within the first semester of 1989.

C. NATURAL RESOURCES

The Philippine side wishes to benefit from the French experience in the fields of natural resources management (protection of the environment, management of water resources and urban waste) and to set up a patrimonial accounting system.

The French side favorably replies to this request and proposes, beginning 1989, the invitation to France of an official and an engineer both from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as the establishment of a training program and missions of French experts.

In the field of water resources management, the French side notes that two studies are to be financed under the 1988 French Grant Protocol. The first study involves the Rizal province and second study involves other provinces of the Philippines. The French side proposes to wait for these two studies to be undertaken before establishing an increased cooperation in this field. In the meantime, the French side responds to the request of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) for one or two of its technicians to be sent for training at the International Training Center for Water Resources Management (CEFIGRE) in Bangkok in 1989. In 1990, both sides may consider cooperation in the institutional, financial and management aspects of water quality improvement.

Finally, both sides underscore their interest in the project of thematic cartography based on SPOT image conducted in Mindanao by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) and the French Geographical Institute (IGN) which shall be completed in 1989.

D. URBAN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Construction

Both sides shall continue the cooperation started in 1988 with the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) and the University of the Philippines College of Architecture in the following sectors:

- construction industrialization and dimensional coordination

- materials quality control

The French side proposes in 1989 to organize the visits of Philippine officials and training of specialists in France as well as missions of French experts to the Philippines.

2. Urban Management

The Philippine side requests assistance of the French Government to design a financing scheme for urban development. The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) shall be the executing agencies.

The French side agrees to this request and shall send an experts mission and invite Filipino trainees and officials.

In addition, the Philippine side requests the assistance of the French Government to conduct a study on new-town planning around Metro Manila with HUDCC as executing agency.

The French side is willing to send a mission of experts to assist the Philippine side in the design of a plan of action.

The French side emphasizes the interaction between the bilateral cooperation on construction and urban management and the actions undertaken by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) at the regional level, with the assistance of France, on construction industrialization and the financing of housing projects.

E. HEALTH

Both sides agree to concentrate their efforts on the following subjects:

1. AIDS Control

After the donations of materials and kits for the detection of AIDS, a joint research program shall be implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) during the visit of Prof. Luc MONTAGNIER on January 1989. Prof. Montagnier has been invited to be a resource speaker during the conference "New and Emerging Technologies in ASEAN" organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

2. Blood Transfusion

The French side is studying the Philippine National Blood Services Program which was submitted by the DOH and shall make proposals for cooperation under this program.

3. Malaria

The cooperation between the Pasteur Institute and the RITM should he continued within the framework of a project submitted to the European Economic Community.

4. Training

Upon the request of the Philippine side and in view of the past cooperation in this field, the French side is offering a training program in neurology for the University of the Philippines' College of Medicine. This training program could be extended to other colleges of medicine or hospitals in the Philippines. Furthermore, a training program in transplant technology is being offered to the National Kidney Institute.

The French side would like to call the attention of the Philippine side to the program of the Non-Government Organization (NGO) "Enfants et Developpement" on public health and nutrition. In support to this project, a French expert in Vitamin A deficiency detection shall visit the Philippines.

F. TRAINING OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS

The Philippine side requests the assistance of the French Government for the implementation of a program to upgrade the teaching level of professors in the University of the Philippines College of Engineering in the field of energy and materials sciences.

In response, the French side shall start in 1989 a scholarship program either in France or at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok where the French Government has set up an important training program particularly in the fields of energy, remote-sensing and management.

In addition, both sides agree to continue training programs in the field of remote-sensing at the AIT or in France.

Both sides are pleased with the exchange and research projects between the College of Engineering of the De La Salle University and the corresponding French institutions in the fields of electronics and mechanical engineering.

In this regard, the French side suggests that all scholarship programs in France be implemented within the framework of agreements signed between the Filipino institutions and their French counterparts.

In response, the Philippine side wishes to emphasize that planning, programming and implementation of the activities stated herein be in accordance with existing policies and institutional mechanisms of the Philippine Government.

G. HUMAN AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

1. The two parties agree to set up a program for protecting and promoting the cultural heritage of the Philippines.

a. Museology: A French expert will conduct technical training in museum administration for 2 to 3 weeks in 1989 and/or 1990. The National Museum shall be the host agency in the Philippines.

b. Marine Archaeology: In collaboration with the national Museum of the Philippines, a French marine archaeologist will conduct lectures and on-site observation tours for a 2-week period.

The French Party will provide scholarship for one Filipino marine archaeologist for training in France. (The level and length of training will be determined later.)

c. Ethnology: The French Party will offer scholarships for training in the preservation of ethnological heritage.

d. Organization and Conservation of Archives: The two Parties will encourage and facilitate cooperative training programs in the field of archival organiz ation and preservation.

To this effect, France proposes a working visit of an expert of the French National Library to study and help regarding the archival conservation problems of concerned Philippine institutions.

The French side agrees to receive a limited number of Filipino curators or 1ibrarians for training in France.

2. Published Works of Filipino Researchers

The French party has informed the Philippine side of the willingness of certain French institutions, namely the National Council for Scientific Research, the Bureau of the Museum of France and the Museum of Man, to include among their scientific works, with due acknowledgment, the published works of Filipino researchers of their counterpart institutions.

3. Public Administration. Business Management and Finance

a. The two parties agree to pursue the cooperation already initiated in the fields of public administration, business management and finance by means of training programs in France and in the Asian region, e.g., through the Asian institute of Technology in Bangkok and the Asian Institute of Management in Manila. The training programs may take the form of short-term courses or postgraduate studies.

b. The French Government will provide scholarships in the above fields in specialized French institutions.

c. The French Party will invite a high official of the Philippine Government to discuss programs of cooperation for subsequent implementation in the field of public finance.

4. Other Fields

The two parties agreed to maintain cooperation already begun in demography, history, economics and other fields consistent with the thrust and priority concerns of the "Updated Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 1988-1992)

H. Other Philippine Priority Project Proposals

1. Trade and Industry

The Philippine side proposes a joint cooperation with the Government of France in the implementation of the following projects of the Department of Trade and Industry:

a) Product Development of Selected Garments for Export to France;

b) Five (5) French Export Development Officers; and

c) Development of Small and Medium-scale Business.

In response, the French side indicated that these projects which are related to economic cooperation should be presented to an appropriate body of the French Government.

2. Science and Technology

The Philippine side proposes a joint cooperation in the implementation of the following projects of the Department of Science and Technology:

a) Development of Regional Research Program in Low- Cost Housing;

b) Biotechnological Research Applied to the Utilization of Selected Coconut By-products;

c) Micro-electronic Component, Uti1ization and Micro-electronics Circuit Design for Product Development (Expert Services) ;

d) Training courses

1-MS/Ph.D Graduates Studies on Renewable Energy

2-Training course on Environmental Impact Assessment of Water-Related Development Projects

3-Health

a - Degree programs in Immunology

b - Degree programs in Microbiology

c - Degree programs in Biochemistry.

In response, the French side indicated that the request as per items a), b), d)1, d)2 had already received favorable answers under their respective sectors. As for items c) and d)3, the French side has agreed to study these proposals and shal1 communicate its decision through normal diplomatic channels within the first semester of 1989.

The Philippine side requests the assistance of the government of France in the implementation of the following projects of the Office of Energy Affairs:

a) Feasibility Study on the Non-Power Applications of the Geothermal Power Effluents. Hot Waters from the Separators and Fluids from Unconnected Producing Wells; and

b) Mobile Energy Management Service

The French side agrees to study these proposals through its AIT-based experts and shall communicate its decision through normal diplomatic channels within the first semester of 1989.

4. Other Fields

The two parties agree to maintain cooperation already begun in demography, history, economics and other fields. consistent with the thrust and priority concerns of the "Updated Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 1988-1992."

V. GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

A. Both sides agree that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both Governments shall be the channels for all communications related to the implementation of this Memorandum.

B. With regards to scholarships, training grants, technical exchanges of experts and the like, the sending party will be responsible for international air fare costs and the receiving country, hospitality costs. However, whenever circumstances so warrant, revisions of this general principle could be made on a case to case basis with the approval of both parties.

C. Both parties agree to convene the next meeting of the Joint Commission in two years time in Paris. Suitable dates will be determined through normal diplomatic channels.

Done in Manila on14 December1988.

For the Government of the Philippines For the Government of France