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Team Canada - Tobin signs education agreement

Premier Brian Tobin today signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with the Republic of the Philippines, represented by Secretary of Education, Culture and Exports, Ricardo T. Gloria. The focus of this agreement is to develop and foster cooperation in education between both governments. The memorandum will increase awareness and explore opportunities for cooperation between their respective educational institutions and businesses that provide goods and services relating to education. It will also encourage and facilitate joint ventures and exchanges to derive mutual benefits through such cooperation.

Also participating in this ceremony was Paul Dominguez, presidential assistant for the island of Mindanao, the largest island in southern Philippines. Mindanao, with an economy heavily dependant on agriculture and natural resources, is in need of many technologies, goods and services which are readily available in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is anticipated that officials of Mindanao and the Department of Education, Culture and Export will visit the province in the near future to expand common interests not only in education but fisheries quality management, and mineral development.

As a part of the 1997 Team Canada Mission, Clyde Rose, of Breakwater Books, is promoting his company's learning resources in environmental education. Available in print and multimedia formals, the software is being promoted to island countries and coastal states. Mr. Rose who is pursuing interests with the Philippine Department of Education said: "Being part of this mission, has given Breakwater the necessary credibility for our company to access decision-makers that would not otherwise be possible. This signing enhances our ability to expedite and build upon initial discussions."

Premier Tobin said: "Today's agreement represents a commitment on behalf of the Philippine government to pursue opportunities of mutual benefit. I am confident that as we move forward with this agreement, Newfoundland, Canada's leader in distance education, will identify many openings for the transfer of our province's cutting edge technology." The Newfoundland delegation moved into the final leg of Team Canada mission this afternoon, arriving in Bangkok, Thailand.

Contact: Cathy Dornan, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3570.