The Australian Embassy in the Philippines launched Thursday a five-year development partnership that will be rolled out across the country until 2029.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Secretary Jan Adams is in Manila to launch the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029 together with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu in Makati City.

The development partnership plan focuses on three objectives — enhancing the condition for stability, bolstering inclusive and sustainable growth, and increasing institutional and community resilience to social, economic, and climate-related shocks.

“For the first time, we are actually launching a long-term plan that actually outlines where Australia’s effort is going to be when it comes to development outcomes,” Yu said in her speech.

She added that the Australian government consulted 85 government agencies and other organizations in crafting the partnership program.

In a press conference, Yu said the Australian government has been pouring over PHP4 billion per year in capacity building and development support for the country.

Aside from government funding, Australia’s private sector will also be investing in the key projects in the country under the partnership program.

The Australian envoy said this amount is expected to be higher with the implementation of the Australia-Philippine Development Partnership Plan.

According to Adams, the Australia-Philippine Development Partnership Plan, specifically, will support peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), increase civil and maritime cooperation, protect the marine environment, and strengthen the justice system.

“We will strengthen our collaboration with the Philippines to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. We will support the government agencies to implement key economic reforms, and partner with the Philippines in key sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, resources, telecom, and digitization. And we will support human capital and skills development, including building skills pathways in secondary education,” the DFAT chief said.

She added that the development plan will boost Australia’s support for climate change, including adaptation and mitigation.

Adams said the Australian government will continue to support humanitarian response during the crisis and work in partnership on disaster risk reduction.

For his part, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Joseph Cupino said this development partnership with Australia will accelerate the administration’s Philippine Development Plan.

Cupino said the partnership with Australia will particularly support the chapters in PDP on protecting the Filipino family from vulnerabilities and expanding opportunities for women. (PNA)