EU to extend P550 million in grants for Mindanao projects

MANILA, Philippines - The European Union (EU) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have forged financing agreements worth P550 million for two grant projects on environment and health in Mindanao.

DFA Assistant Secretary Elisabeth Buensuceso and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux concluded the agreements during the EU-Philippines Senior Officials’ Meeting last Dec. 13.

Ledoux said the new projects “address key areas in the expanded bilateral relations, namely environmental protection, including climate change, and maternal and child health which are fully in line with the Philippine Development Plan.”

The new projects will provide an additional P550 million in grants on top of the more than P65 billion in grants extended over the past 25 years.

The SWITCH Policy Support Program led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) promotes sustainable consumption and production and the implementation of key environmental laws in the country.

The program comprises three components focusing on air quality with the DENR; eco-labeling with the Department of Trade and Industry; and renewable energy and energy efficiency with the Department of Energy.

Through technical assistance, the EU will support the Philippine government’s goal to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The health project focuses on the needs of indigenous people, adding to the many EU projects in Mindanao to reduce poverty and thus promote peace and stability on the island.

The Mindanao project is in addition to the EU’s ongoing support to the Mindanao Trust Fund, the return of internally displaced people and the international team monitoring the ceasefire between military and Moro rebel forces in the south.