European Union diplomats and ambassadors from 15 member states have launched their first-ever joint mission to Northern Mindanao to inspect a P9.6 billion aid portfolio focused on judicial reform and agricultural development.
Led by EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro, the delegation arrived on Jan. 14 for a three-day tour to evaluate EU-funded projects.
"We are pleased to visit Mindanao jointly for the first time. Since 2020, the EU has invested over P9.6 billion (€140 million) in Mindanao," Santoro said.
The visit focuses on two areas: streamlining justice delivery and transforming Bukidnon into a global coffee hub. A key project is the
"Tri-City Justice Zone", targeting Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
The EU-GOJUST program supports a "rapid response protocol" for OSAEC cases, requiring multi-agency teams to act within 72 hours.
The delegation is also inspecting farming communities in Bukidnon supported by the Support to Peace and Development in Mindanao (SPADE) project, aiming to position Bukidnon as the "Arabica coffee capital of the Philippines".
The project has assisted 7,225 farming households, with 74% adopting climate-smart practices.
The ambassadors met with local officials, including Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Bukidnon Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque.
"We thank Senator Zubiri and local government officials for the warm welcome," Santoro said.
