The Philippines and Australia have reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to cooperation, solidifying over 50 years of development collaboration built on shared values of democracy, regional security, and economic partnership, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
In partnership with the Australian government, NEDA hosted the inaugural Philippines-Australia High-Level Consultations on Development on February 18 at its headquarters in Mandaluyong City. The discussions focused on aligning development priorities under the Philippines-Australia Development Partnership Plan (DPP) 2024-2029, reviewing ongoing initiatives, and identifying new opportunities for collaboration.
NEDA Undersecretary for Investment Programming Joseph J. Capuno emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation across key sectors, particularly in infrastructure, climate resilience, and trade. He highlighted the critical role of the private sector in infrastructure development, especially in financing and technical assistance for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in large-scale projects.
On climate resilience, Capuno stressed the Philippines’ vulnerability to natural disasters and underscored the need for stronger advocacy for loss and damage financing to ensure transparent and fair distribution of resources, particularly for agriculture-dependent communities affected by climate change.
“Each year, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons. While early evacuations have significantly reduced fatalities, we remain committed to further minimizing storm-related damage,” Capuno stated.
The discussions also covered sustainable investments, particularly in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in the mining sector. Capuno acknowledged Australia’s expertise in balancing mining operations with environmental protection and indigenous rights, stressing the need to integrate similar best practices into Philippine policies.
“Australia has found ways to mitigate environmental and social impacts in mining. We aim to learn from your technologies and regulatory approaches to refine our policies moving forward,” he noted.
The high-level consultation marks a significant step in the Philippines-Australia partnership, reinforcing both countries’ dedication to peacebuilding, civil maritime cooperation, strategic economic reforms, education, social protection, and disaster resilience—all key pillars of the DPP 2024-2029. Officials from both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration and shaping future joint initiatives that will drive sustainable development and regional stability.
