The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has several attached councils, including the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (TCCP). This serves as the national focal point for the country’s technical cooperation program, pursuant to the United Nations’ (UN) resolutions on Technical and Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC-ECDC).
The TCCP was created on September 1, 1992, by virtue of Executive Order No. 17, signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos. It is headed by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Chairperson, and the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as Vice-Chairperson, with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Environment and National Resources, Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry, as Members.
Vision, Mission, and Service Pledge
According to the its official website, the TCCP envisions “a socially and economically developed, interdependent, and empowered developing and least developed countries, able to maintain harmony, sustainable growth, and manage globalization effectively with the Philippines in a leadership role.”
As the TCDC focal point of the Philippines, the TCCP’s mission is “to formulate and execute the Philippine Technical Program in favor of developing countries, particularly the least developed among them, bearing in mind the further strengthening of the competitive edge of the Philippines in socio-economic development.”
With regard to its service pledge, the TCCP “shall continually uphold the principles of harmony, sustainability, and effective management in the fulfillment of its mandate.”
Mandate or Functions
Speaking of mandate, the main functions of the TCCP are as follows:
- Offering non-degree training courses in areas where the Philippines has developed the experience and expertise, and which are relevant to the development efforts of beneficiary countries and the Philippines;
- Coordinating related projects and activities concerned with TCDC-ECDC, which are implemented by other agencies of the Philippine government and/or counterpart TCDC focal points of other countries; and
- Undertaking research on the technical assistance requirements of the Philippines and other developing countries and the least developed countries (LDCs).
TCCP Cooperation Program
One of the key initiatives of the TCCP is the development and implementation of the Philippine Technical Cooperation Program. This involves providing non-degree programs in the following focus areas:
- Agriculture Management;
- Disaster Management;
- Culture and Heritage Tourism;
- Entrepreneurship and Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs);
- Environment;
- Gender and Development;
- Health;
- Investment Promotion; and
- Livelihood and Income-Generating Skills.
Over the past 30 years, the council has provided training for representatives from countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and even Europe. Initially, training was provided within the Philippines, before eventually expanding to training missions in beneficiary countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also engaged in virtual as well as “hybrid” training modes.
Scholarships
The TCCP works hand-in-hand with different Philippine universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in providing partial scholarships for individuals and agencies from partner countries.
Contact Information: TCCP
The council’s office is located at the DFA Headquarters in Pasay City, Metro Manila. It may be reached through the following contact details:
Address: Double Dragon Tower, 76 DD Meridian Ave, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Telephone: (632) 8 834 4000 local 4750 / (632) 8 834 4000 local 4751
Email: tccp@dfa.gov.ph / tccp.comms@dfa.gov.ph
Website: https://dfa.gov.ph/tccp-about/
Google Map:
The TCCP plays a major role in providing technical training to countries in the Global South. Indeed, it supports not only Filipinos, but also people in other developing countries and the least developed countries, as well.
Aside from the TCCP, the DFA partners with many other agencies, such as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Visit this link to learn about it!