Australia pledges more aid for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Australian government has vowed more support for Mindanao, particularly in the peace-building initiatives and education for children in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Australia is one of the largest donors to the country’s education sector, with an annual investment of approximately P1.3 billion.

Australian federal justice minister Michael Keenan and embassy deputy chief of mission David Dutton recently visited Tawi-Tawi to see the impact of their country’s peace building initiatives, which includes the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao in ARMM (BEAM-ARMM).

BEAM-ARMM is a comprehensive education and youth development program that contributes to poverty alleviation and attainment of peace in ARMM.

Keenan and Dutton met with local government officials and out-of-school youth during the visit, which was said to be part of the minister’s trip to the Philippines to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation.