Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. thanked the German government for its continuous support to the agency’s development initiatives.

Abalos made this remark in a meeting with German Ambassador to Manila Anke Reiffenstuel in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday, noting that he looks forward to more meaningful engagements in digitalization, tourism and other areas.

Abalos said that over the years, the German government has been extending its helping hand to the DILG through technical support and capacity building interventions to enhance the capability of local governments in service delivery.

“The German government has always been generous and supportive of our developmental efforts in the DILG. We are hopeful that our partnership will further blossom to give way to more productive undertakings,” he said in a statement. Tuesday.

Abalos also expressed hope to explore potential cooperation with the German government in areas such as sustainable development, digitalization, innovation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

One of the technical assistance projects in the pipeline is the Integrated Urban Climate-Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (URBAN-ACT) which will be funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The DILG will be the lead implementing agency of the said project which supports the transformation of cities towards low-carbon and resilient urban development.

Other projects supported by the German government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) includes the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Pillar 1, the Sustainable Integrated Management and Planning for Local Government Ecosystems (SIMPLE) and the Mindanao Peace and Development Program (MINPAD RISE). (PNA)