The Philippines and Australia have renewed their commitment to fostering robust bilateral ties, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
On February 18, NEDA hosted the inaugural Philippines-Australia High-Level Consultations on Development at its Central Office in Mandaluyong City. The discussions focused on aligning development priorities between the two nations.
This meeting comes on the heels of the Philippines-Australia Development Partnership Plan (DPP) 2024-2029, launched in October 2024. The plan outlines shared objectives and serves as a roadmap for collaboration in key sectors, including peacebuilding, civil maritime cooperation, strategic economic reform, skills development and education, social protection, as well as disaster and climate resilience.
The consultation also provided updates on current programs and initiatives under the DPP.
During the session, NEDA Undersecretary for Investment Programming Joseph Capuno stressed the significance of strengthening cross-sector collaboration. He pointed out several prospects to enhance the development partnership between the two governments.
Capuno underscored the vital role of the private sector in advancing infrastructure projects, particularly through investments and financing. He emphasized the need for technical assistance to boost the Philippines’ ability to design, implement, and manage public-private partnerships for large-scale infrastructure initiatives effectively.
Addressing the issue of climate resilience, Capuno noted the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as typhoons. He highlighted the importance of advocating for loss and damage measures, ensuring that funds are allocated fairly and transparently to support communities—especially those in the agriculture sector—affected by climate change.
“Each year, the Philippines faces an average of 20 typhoons. While we have made progress in lowering fatalities through early evacuations when warnings are given, we are still focused on improving our efforts to reduce the damage caused by these storms,” he remarked.
In the realm of trade and investments, particularly concerning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in responsible mining, Capuno emphasized the need to unlock the nation’s mining potential.
“But, first, we must work on our mining policies. In Australia, you found a way to minimize the damage to the environment and the indigenous people. We need these inputs, particularly on existing technology, to be reflected in our own policies moving forward,” he added.
