Australia will extend to the Philippines over P4 billion yearly or a total of more than P20 billion in official development assistance (ODA) grants to priority programs and projects under a new five-year plan.
Launched on Thursday, Oct. 17, the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan (DPP) 2024-2029 will build capacity and support development across three main objectives, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong (HK) Yu told a press briefing.
The three objectives are enhancing the conditions for stability, bolstering inclusive and sustainable economic growth, as well as increasing institutional and community resilience to social, economic, and climate-related shocks, a copy of the plan read.
These would support the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the medium-term socioeconomic targets of the Marcos Jr. administration, which ultimately aims to slash the poverty rate to single-digit levels by the time the President steps down in 2028.
Yu said it's in Australia's interest that the Philippines is peaceful, prosperous and stable, as the two countries are both within the same Indo-Pacific region, and as strategic partners with over 75 years of bilateral relations.
The Australian ambassador added that they wanted Manila and Canberra to share the same values in this region, "where no country dominates, and where no country is dominated."
As such, when asked to comment about recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Yu said Australia is consistent in its position that all countries must adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which serves as the international maritime law. "It remains our position, and always will be."
In particular, the new DPP will focus on initiatives such as peace-building in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), civil maritime cooperation, security sector capacity-building, as well as justice, human rights, cybersecurity and preventing transnational crime.
It will also be geared towards strategic economic reforms involving key sectors such as critical infrastructure and energy transition, agri-food systems research, and women's economic participation, especially through the private sector.
Forthcoming Australian grants will likewise finance education and skills development, through scholarships.
Also, the plan will support climate and disaster resilience, humanitarian assistance, social protection, as well as gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI).
Yu said the specific new and ongoing Philippine government initiatives that would receive grant financing shall be chosen by the Australian government.
National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Joseph J. Capuno said NEDA will inform agencies about the availability of funds from Australia so they can pitch their projects and programs aligned with the DPP's own objectives.
Yu noted that Australia has been supporting the Philippines' development goals through a cumulative P63 billion in ODA grants provided during the past two decades.
Capuno said Australian development assistance usually ranked fifth or sixth among the Philippines' major bilateral partners.
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Elizabeth Adams flew to Manila and graced the launch of the DPP.