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.
Australia Gives AUS$40 Million For Peace Process, Government Projects In Mindanao
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March 29, 2017
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