AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Bilateral
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Israel (hereinafter referred to as ”the Parties” and individually as “Party”),
Convinced that close cooperation in the field of environmental protection can provide an important contribution to the friendly relations between their two states,
Recognizing that many environmental issues require cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels and that such cooperation can contribute not only to the protection of the environment at local and national levels but also at a global level,
Wishing to achieve economic development and a higher standard of living, taking into account the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,
Have reached the following agreement on Cooperation in the field of Environmental Protection:
Article 1 – Objective
This Agreement aims to develop mutual bilateral cooperation between the Parties in the field of environmental protection.
Article 2 – Areas of Cooperation
The Parties shall cooperate mainly in the areas of:
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Prevention and tackling of water pollution, stream restoration, and wastewater treatment and effluent reuse standards;
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Nature and biodiversity protection;
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Adaptation to climate change;
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Waste management including recycling, waste to energy and waste prevention;
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Marine and coastal environment protection;
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Preparedness and response to environmental emergency situations within the capacity of the competent authorities defined in article 4(1);
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Promotion and dissemination of environmental technologies; and
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| h.. | Any other area mutually agreed upon by the Parties. |
Article 3 – Forms of Cooperation
The cooperation may be conducted in the following forms:
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Exchange of knowledge, experience, best practices, scientific and technical information and data on environmental policies;
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Joint organization of seminars, meetings, workshops and trainings for scientists, experts, regulators, and other stakeholders on environmental protection;
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Exchange of information and consultations regarding global environmental negotiation processes and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs);
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Identifying sources of international project funding and encourage opportunities for private investments;
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Any other forms of cooperation that may be jointly agreed upon by the Parties.
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Article 4 – Implementation
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The Competent Authorities responsible for the implementation of this Agreement are:
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For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
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For the Government of the State of Israel, the Ministry of the Environmental Protection, in coordination with other governmental bodies, as applicable;
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The Parties, within their competence and in accordance with their national laws, regulations, rules, procedures and mechanisms, shall encourage the creation and development of contacts and cooperation between bodies of the state administration, local and regional authorities, private companies and organizations, active in environmental protection.
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The Parties shall cooperate in fulfilling substantive commitments arising from international agreements in the area of environmental protection binding the Parties.
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The implementation of cooperation under this Agreement may be covered by a separate implementation arrangement, agreed upon by the Parties.
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Article 5 – Funding
Cooperation activities carried out in accordance with this Agreement shall be subject to availability of appropriate funds and other resources of each Party. Unless otherwise agreed, each Party shall bear the costs of its own participation in the activities carried out under this Agreement, in accordance with its own financial and budgetary processes.
Article 6 – Intellectual Property
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Each Party shall maintain legal means for the protection of intellectual property rights of materials obtained under the framework of this Agreement, in accordance with its applicable laws, regulations, rules, procedures and mechanisms.
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Intellectual property rights, which shall result from joint activity in pursuance of this Agreement, shall be allocated and governed in accordance with separate agreements to be made on a case by case basis.
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No Party shall transmit any confidential information that has been marked as such and was obtained in pursuance of this Agreement to any third party without prior written consent of the Party from which such information was received.
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Article 7 – Framework
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The terms of this Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties under other international treaties or international law.
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Any activity carried out pursuant to this Agreement shall be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, rules, procedures, programs and mechanisms of each State Party.
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Article 8 – Consultations
Any disagreement between the Parties arising from the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled amicably through consultations between the Parties.
Article 9 – Effectivity, Amendments, Duration, and Termination
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This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the latter of the Diplomatic Notes by which the Parties notify each other of the completion of their internal legal procedures required for the entry into force of this Agreement.
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This Agreement may be amended at any time through mutual written consent of the Parties. Such amendment shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions in Article 9(1).
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This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years, and shall be automatically renewed for another five (5) years, unless one Party, through diplomatic channels, notifies the other Party of the intention to terminate this Agreement.
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| 4. | Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time by sending a Diplomatic Note to the other Party at least six (6) months prior the requested termination date. |
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The termination of this Agreement shall not affect ongoing activities carried out pursuant to this Agreement, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Parties.
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Done in Manila, Philippines on the 5th day of June 2023 which corresponds to the 16th day of Sivan, 5783 of the Hebrew Calendar, in two originals each in the Hebrew and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation, the English version shall prevail.
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(SGD.)
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(SGD.)
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For the Government of the
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For the Government of the State
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Republic of the Philippines
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of Israel
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