The Czech Republic (CR), just like every other member of the European Union, contributes to development and humanitarian projects all over the world. Its major partners in development cooperation are countries that have historic relations with the CR, located mostly in Southeast Europe, Africa and Asia. The fields of cooperation are those in which the CR has a long tradition and record of highest quality, particularly environmental protection, geology, water management, power equipment, transportation, special agriculture, and the like.

Since 2001, the Philippines has been one of the countries where the CR, along with local partners , has been implementing projects in the field of water and waste management and hydropower engineering.

The first project was carried out in the years 2001 - 2003 in partnership with the Baguio Water District. With the goal of solving the lack of good-quality drinking water in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines, new drinking-water treatment plants were delivered and installed in the city.

A concurrent and partially follow-up project was the development of mini hydropower engineering in rural areas of the Philippines, carried out in cooperation with the Department of Energy (DOE) and many local partners. The goal of this project was to support the construction of a mini hydro power plant (MHPP) in less developed provinces and to show the possibilities of using drinking water for energy production. Rehabilitative as well as new solutions were studied and proposed for sites across the Philippines - from the Asin Valley in Baguio to the municipality of Cantilan in Mindanao.

Starting this year a new project is going to be implemented in Baguio area. Its main goal is the rehabilitation of the small hydro power plants.

In December 2004, a disastrous typhoon hit Luzon and greatly damaged the system of the main drinking-water source for Manila, putting the Umiray - Angat Diversion Tunnel out of operation. Mudflows and deposits caused the flooding and destruction of the neighboring structures. At that time, the state administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) requested the CR, through the Embassy in Manila, for assistance.

This project (rehabilitation of the system and safeguarding it against future similar calamities), co-financed by the CR, has two phases. The first phase includes the rehabilitation of the MHPP at the end of the tunnel which will supply the entire system with power, and looks into the possibility of selling surplus energy to help reduce the costs of operation.

The second phase comprises a geological survey and the implementation of measures preventing the recurrence of catastrophic consequences in the area of the tunnel and the water reservoir.

In 2007 a new project in Naga City started. Its major aim is to improve solid waste management in Naga City and to cope with the requirements of RA 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

More about Czech Development Cooperation might be found here.

Publication International Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic (for download in .pdf format)