This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) made and entered into by
and between:

The TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE in the Philippines
represented by HSIN-HSING WU, Ph. D., Representative, herein
referred to as TECO:

The MANILA ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE in Taiwan represented by
ANTONIO I. BASILIO, Resident Representative, herein referred to
as MECO;

WHEREAS, desiring to improve the health of the peoples of Taiwan
and the Philippines, to promote mutual understanding and
friendly relations, and to cooperate on medical services; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the advantages to be gained by their
respective peoples from the implementation of such cooperation;

WHEREAS, the TECO and MECO wish to enter into this MOU for the
purpose of setting forth their roles and responsibilities for
joint collaboration and coordination in health implementation
activities and referred to as the "PARTIES";

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing
premises, the Parties do hereby mutually agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
Responsibilities of Parties:
The Parties shall designate respectively, a representative
agency to implement this Memorandum. For TECO, the implementing
agency is the Department of Health; and for MECO, the
implementing agency is the Philippines Department of Health
(Philippines-DOH).

Coordination and collaboration in health implementation
activities
The following mechanisms shall provide collaboration and
cooperation between the PARTIES and their representative
agencies.
The Parties and /or their representative agencies shall:
a.Hold at least one meeting per year in Taiwan or the
Philippines, for the planning of measures designed to improve
health services and the training of medical staff;
b.Promote and facilitate the exchange of experiences pertaining
to health, including the areas such as but not limited to:
b.1.Communicable and emerging infectious diseases (e.g.
tuberculosis, dengue fever, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza, and
the like), in relation to the implementation of the
International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the
establishment of the national IHR focal points;
b.2.Non-communicable diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, gout, hypertension) that
will focus on changing behavioral risk factors (e.g.
obesity, insufficient physical activity, poor diet and
substance abuse, especially alcohol and cigarettes); and
b.3.Research and policy development
c.Promote and facilitate the development of local health systems
and foster good relationships and collaboration between and
among academic institutions, hospitals, and non-governmental
organizations, local government units and indigenous peoples
in support thereof;
d.Promote and assist the participation of the Parties in
international activities concerning health and other health
related activities;
e.Promote medical services and personnel exchanges, including
staff training in the area of medicine and health technology;
and,
f.Promote and facilitate cooperation with respect to social
health insurance and health care financing.

ARTICLE II
Application of this MOU:
1.The funding arrangement for any exchanges facilitated by
virtue of this MOU shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
2.Either Party may request consultation concerning this MOU
through written notice.
3.This MOU shall enter into force from the date of signature by
the Parties.
4.Either Party may terminate this MOU through the issuance of a
written notice, three months in advance to the other
Contracting Party.

ARTICLE III
Final Provisions
This MOU is to be interpreted harmoniously by the Parties, and
nothing in this MOU, is intended to amend or modify any other
agreements.
It is the intention of the Parties, subject to availability of
their respective funding for this purpose, to carry out, in good
faith, their roles and responsibilities as described in this
MOU. The Parties hereto may, upon mutual consent, amend, alter,
or modify this MOU by any instrument duly signed by the Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned signs this Memorandum in
duplicate at Taipei this 5th day of December 2006 and in the
English language.


__________________________ _________________________
Hsin-Hsing WU, Ph. D. Antonio I. BASILIO
Resident Representative Resident Representative
Taipei Economic and Cultural Manila Economic and Cultural
Office Office


Witnessed by:

__________________________ _________________________
Sheng-Mou HOU, MD, M.P.H. Francisco T. DUQUE III, MD, MSc
Minister Secretary
Department of Health Department of Health