DAVAO CITY — Over the years, Mindanao “has been one of the priorities of our development cooperation in the Philippines,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely declared recently.
“And given it’s the economic growth, we remain committed to sustain our support programs for Mindanao in education, livelihood, peace and stability,” Gorely added in a recent visit.
The ambassador said the Australian government acknowledges the opportunities to expand their bilateral engagement in other key areas in the Philippines such as trade and investment.
Trade ties between Australia and the Philippines are valued at approximately AU$3.982 billion per annum. More than 280 Australian companies have an established presence in the Philippines and have created 40,000 jobs.
The total size of the Australian investment in the country is estimated at AU$10 billion covering a multitude of sectors and contributing to knowledge sharing and economic growth.
In Mindanao, Australia works with local governments, local organizations and NGOs to support programs in education, technical vocational training, peace building and disaster risk management.
The Australian Ambassador was in Davao City to lead the launch of “Australia in Davao” promotions.
The Australian Embassy collaborated with partners in Davao to offer a series of events to celebrate the longstanding partnership with Mindanao, and with the city of Davao.
Gorely, together with Australian Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner Elodie Journet, was the event’s keynote speaker.
Meanwhile, The Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade) will conduct an Australian Food and Wine Appreciation Class for students of the Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (IChef).
Dairy Australia scholars, as well as representatives from Meat and Livestock Australia and food importers will be on hand to share their knowledge and expertise about Australian fresh produce, dairy, red meat and wine.
IChef has worked with Workskills Australia to offer training programs suitable for an Australian apprenticeship and traineeship pathway.
To honor the Australia Global Alumni based in the region, the Ambassador will be hosting a reception at the recently opened Australian-themed restaurant Bondi and Bourke.
The Australian government had invested AU$92 million over five years to support to Basic Education Assistance in Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) which has trained over 12,000 teachers, established over 800 learning centers, and provided technical and vocational skills to 11,000 out of school youths.
The Australian-funded Provincial Road Management Facility recently rehabilitated 170.2 kilometers of roads and helped maintain 161.7 km of roads in Davao including seven provinces in Mindanao to help improve access to markets, health facilities and schools.
The total investment for the road maintenance and rehabilitation projects amounted to P655 million.
Australia has also extended its humanitarian assistance to Mindanao in the aftermath of Zamboanga siege, providing permanent housing to up to 400 homeless families, and livelihood assistance projects including health, civil registration and psychosocial services to at least 1,000 families.