The European Union (EU) has committed at least P8.5 billion over the past five years to support peace and development initiatives in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as announced by EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro during the 5th Bangsamoro International Development Partners Forum in Davao City on February 9, 2026. Santoro emphasized the EU’s long-standing partnership with the Philippines, spanning five decades, to foster peace and development in Mindanao, especially in the Bangsamoro region. He highlighted the EU’s role as a reliable partner, collaborating with national and Bangsamoro institutions to support Filipino-led solutions for peace, development, and inclusive growth. Since 2020, the EU’s investments in Mindanao have significantly benefited BARMM, supporting its political transition and socioeconomic recovery in conflict-affected areas. Santoro praised BARMM’s progress since its establishment in 2019, following the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed in 2014 after 17 years of peace negotiations. The EU’s assistance includes over 100 strategic interventions impacting BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies, as well as support for communities in six recognized MILF camps and the Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Program, which aims to improve livelihoods and attract private investment. Organized by the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), the forum highlighted BARMM’s transformation and strategic partnerships, with BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin Ali describing it as a move from fragmented aid to strategic synergy. Santoro reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting BARMM and Mindanao’s development, aligning its efforts with the Bangsamoro Development Plan. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
