Australia Gives AUS$40 Million For Peace Process, Government Projects In Mindanao

The Australian government has committed to allocate AUS$40 million to the country to support the peace process and government projects in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao where extremism is present.

Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reaffirmed her country’s commitment on March 17 during the launching of the Education Pathways Program at Marco Polo Davao Hotel to carry forward the peace development in southern Mindanao by making various programs and services available for the residents in the area.

“We know that there's more to be done in the peace process and the Australian government is quiet supporter of the efforts to bring peace in Southern Philippines,” she said.

Bishop announced that they will provide multi-million Australian dollars to assist the peace efforts as a way of promoting progress in the country to eventually attain its long dream for just and lasting peace and to be free from threats perpetrated by local terrorist.

She added that the projects will focus on water supply; infrastructure and other developments that the local people highly need to be able to uphold inclusive growth in the areas.

“We will also be supporting the peace agreements and technical assistance to ensure that the peace agreements can be concluded,” she said.

With this positive gesture, the top diplomat believed that Philippines will continue to be a friend and a partner towards achieving prosperity in conflict-affected regions of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines.

Her statement was also issued in the wake of the renewed peace talk between the government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (NDF) wherein both parties agreed to stage the fourth round of peace talk next month.

The pledged amount is on top of the AUS$90 million education assistance that they will give to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that is designed to be a platform in bringing quality and standard education for the Moro youth.

“It's a measure of significance within a development program to ensure that we can continue to support the Philippines in its progress towards peace,” she said.

This year, the Philippines holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and Australia looks forward to work closely with the Philippines as it takes the most important role in ASEAN.

Bishop had also paid a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte on March 17 evening at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City and expressed her willingness to cooperate with the government against terrorism to address security threats and she said that she hopes to be back to the country.

Source: Sunstar PH