BY ROY MABASA
The European Union (EU) is providing the Philippine government a total of P3.4 billion financing to support lasting peace and sustainable development and to increase economic opportunities in Mindanao until 2025.
On Friday, EU Delegation to the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Thomas Wiersing led the ceremonial exchange of financing agreements with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at the DoF office in Manila.
The EU financing agreements cover P2 billion under “Rise Mindanao” and another P1.4 B under Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA).
“The EU has always been a reliable, impartial and committed partner in the pursuit of peace and development in Mindanao”, Wiersing said, adding that the European Union remains steadfast in its resolve to continue strengthening its partnership with the Philippines in the future through peace consolidation and inclusive growth.
Stressing that the EU’s DNA is peace, Wiersing said the two agreements reaffirm their commitment to contributing to peace and development in Southern Philippines.
For over two decades now, the EU has been a major actor in Mindanao in promoting peace, human security, and development.
According to a fact sheet distributed by the EU, Rise Mindanao Program will help provide job opportunities for farmers, women, youth, and indigenous people.
In particular, farmers’ organizations will be assisted to enable them to engage in livelihood activities in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors and to set up their own cooperatives.
The SUBATRA Programme, on the other hand, will help consolidate the hard-won peace in Bangsamoro by supporting the new administration, the parliament, the new judicial system, civil society through the transition. It will also draw from expertise from the Philippines, the EU, and across the world, and will also build training facilities and equip all relevant institutions.
These programs, it explained, are part of a larger package of the EU cooperation programs likely to be finalized within this year. (Roy Mabasa)
