A new Australian Government initiative to strengthen social protection, inclusion and gender equality in the Philippines was officially launched On December 5 in Makati City as part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) annual Partnership Forum.
The five-year, Php1.5 billion Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program will see the Australian and Philippine governments work closely as Strategic Partners to support poverty reduction and create equal opportunities for all Filipinos. SPRING will strengthen the Philippines’ social protection programs through technical assistance, capacity-building and fostering evidence-based policy reforms. It will strengthen the Philippines’ gender budgeting and mainstreaming systems; improve disability data for better services; and strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ access to services.
During the event, Ambassador Yu and Secretary Rex Gatchalian officially signed a subsidiary agreement for the SPRING program, set to run from 2024 to 2029.
Ambassador Yu noted the importance of the new program in achieving the two countries’ shared vision outlined in the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029.
“Australia is committed to working with the Philippines to achieve its development objectives, and through SPRING we are stepping up our support for the most disadvantaged Filipinos,” Ambassador Yu said.
SPRING builds on Australia’s long-standing support for social protection in the Philippines, driven by the shared ambition of both nations to build a more prosperous and resilient Philippines.
Secretary Gatchalian highlighted that as a key partner in SPRING, DSWD welcomed the support to increase investment in the country’s social protection mechanisms, which assisted some 24 million Filipinos in 2024.
“The DSWD understands that our country is diverse and constantly evolving. That is why we continue to build partnerships and innovate our approach to be just as dynamic and responsive. We thank the Australian Government for investing in strengthening the Philippine Government’s system to reduce poverty and gender inequality and promote social inclusion,” DSWD Secretary Gatchalian said.
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Australia in The Philippines
