Australia-Philippines development cooperation – a true partnership

Dear friends,

Mabuhay! For over 50 years, the development partnership between Australia and the Philippines has stood the test of time, and it’s now reaching new heights.

On Oct. 17, the Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ms Jan Adams AO PSM visited Manila to officially launch the Philippines-Australia Development Partnership Plan (DPP) 2024-29.

The DPP is a strategic blueprint for our development cooperation over the next five years.

The plan was co-launched by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), with numerous Philippine government agencies, and members of the Supreme Court and Congress in attendance.

This DPP underscores our commitment to deepening our genuine partnership, based on respect, listening and learning from each other. Australia is providing over P4 billion (A$104 million) per year in capacity building and development support to the Philippines. This includes P3.6 billion (A$94.2 million) in Official Development Assistance, which makes the Philippines our fifth largest bilateral program globally.

This collaboration is a reflection of our aligned priorities and shared vision. The DPP was informed by consultations with over 85 stakeholders, including Philippine government agencies, development partners, academia and civil society. We worked hard to ensure our efforts are deeply integrated with the needs and ambitions of the Filipino people, and aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

Our Development Partnership Plan will focus on three key pillars: supporting stability; bolstering inclusive and sustainable economic growth; and strengthening resilience.

Stability is a critical precondition for economic growth and development. I’ve seen first-hand during my visits to Cotabato City and Marawi City how investments in peacebuilding, community safety and livelihoods can provide crucial support to conflict-affected communities. This is why Australia will continue our longstanding support for peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Australia will also work with the Supreme Court to strengthen the judicial system and expand access to justice for vulnerable groups. As maritime nations, we are also stepping up our partnership with the Philippines on civil maritime cooperation and protecting our oceans.

The Philippines is experiencing remarkable economic growth and will soon achieve upper middle-income economy status. What’s crucial is that this economic growth is inclusive so that more Filipinos benefit, and is sustainable so that growth continues. That’s why Australia will partner with the Philippines in key sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, resources, telecommunications and digitization. There are huge opportunities, which were highlighted during a recent business mission when Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake led a delegation of 14 Australian businesses to the Philippines. Australian businesses want to invest in the Philippines, in recognition of significant opportunities for shared prosperity. We will also support the Philippines’ reforms to increase the employability of senior high school graduates, to leverage the Philippines’ demographic dividend and ensure that young people have the best starting point in life for economic security.

To strengthen resilience, we are committed to working together with the Philippine government to address climate change, social protection, humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction. Our efforts reflect a proactive approach to safeguarding communities against a range of challenges. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Butuan, where we work with local communities to bolster their disaster and climate resilience. This visit highlighted the tangible benefits of strengthening communities to mitigate the impacts of climate change. To also strengthen the resilience of Filipino households, we will continue to support the Philippines to improve its social protection system, which reaches over 24 million poor Filipinos with regular cash transfers.

Just as important as what we are doing, is how we’re doing it. In my view, our approach to development cooperation sets Australia apart as a true partner of the Philippines for three main reasons.

First, Australia’s partnership with the Philippines is not just longstanding – it is enduring. The five-year timeframe of the DPP demonstrates how Australia has a long-term vision, and that we are here not as fleeting friends, but as committed partners.

A good example is our Australia Awards scholarship program. Since the 1950s, over 3,000 Filipinos have been awarded full scholarships to study in Australia. Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships offered by the Australian government, that give Filipinos an opportunity to do post-graduate study at Australia’s world-class universities and institutions. I have met many Australian alumni during my time here in the Philippines, many of whom studied in Australia decades ago and are now leaders in their field. Their successes are a testament to the enduring impact of our development cooperation.

Second, our development cooperation with the Philippines reflects the essence of true partnership. Australia’s approach to development is to plan and implement programs that are co-designed with partners. And we do it by listening and making sure we deliver quality development programs that respond to the Philippines’ priorities.

An example of this is our longstanding support for social protection. In response to the Philippines’ interest in establishing a cash transfer program in 2007, Australia listened to the Philippines’ priorities and brought in technical experts to establish the 4Ps program. And we’re still partnering with the Philippines to strengthen the program to this day.

Finally, we deliver evidence-based, data-driven programs. We leverage Australia’s experience and advantage in key areas that match up with the Philippines’ development priorities.

For example, with Australia’s expertise in scientific research, we are working with the Philippines to protect our oceans. This includes collaborative efforts in coral reef restoration, geospatial marine mapping and reducing marine plastics, all aimed at safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.

As neighbors, friends and partners, Australia will always support the Philippines to deliver its development priorities and its vision of a peaceful and prosperous future.

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HK Yu is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @AusAmbPH.