Joint media release with:
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. HK Yu PSM, FCPA
The Hon Arsenio Balisacan, Philippine Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
MANILA - 17 October 2024. The Australian Government and the Government of the Philippines have launched the new Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029 (DPP).
At the launch event held in Manila, Australia’s Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Jan Adams AO PSM said, “The Development Partnership Plan reflects our shared ambition for sustainable, long-term outcomes that respond to the development priorities of the Philippines.”
Australia and the Philippines have a strong and enduring partnership built on almost 80 years of diplomatic engagement, including over 50 years of development cooperation. Under our Strategic Partnership, Australia is providing over Php4 billion (AUD104 million) per year in capacity building and development support to the Philippines, including Php3.6 billion (AUD94.2 million) in Official Development Assistance. Over the last 20 years, this has amounted to over Php63 billion (AUD1.6 billion). Australia’s development program for the Philippines is our fifth largest.
Under the DPP, Australia’s development partnership with the Philippines will focus on supporting stability; fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth; and strengthening resilience.
To support stability, Australia will continue to contribute to peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, help enhance access to justice, and increase our civil maritime cooperation.
For inclusive economic growth, Australia will support the Philippine Government to implement key economic reforms, and partner in key sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, resources, telecommunications and digitisation. We will also support the Philippines’ reforms to increase the employability of senior high school graduates.
To strengthen resilience, we will work together on climate change, social protection, humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction.
“The DPP builds on our countries’ close partnership, and sets out how we will pursue our shared development priorities so that together we can shape a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” said Australian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. HK Yu, PSM, FCPA.
The DPP has been prepared through collaboration with the Philippine Government, civil society organisations and a range of development stakeholders.
“NEDA is fully committed to collaborating with our Australian counterparts to achieve the DPP’s objectives. With our combined efforts, we can create effective solutions that positively impact the lives of many Filipinos,” said Philippine NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan in his message for the DPP launch.
The DPP is available on the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.