Cagayan de oro: The city government officially welcomed 17 ambassadors and charg©s d'affaires from the European Union (EU) and their delegates on Thursday, with prospects of fostering socio-economic ties in Mindanao.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Rolando Uy stated that the visit reflects growing international confidence in the city's governance and development direction. Uy highlighted that the presence of EU ambassadors underscores Cagayan de Oro's role as a vital growth center in Mindanao and opens opportunities for stronger partnerships in development and governance.
The visit aimed to give the EU delegation insights into the city's development efforts and explore cooperation areas like climate action, renewable energy, trade, education, and sustainable agriculture. One of the concerns raised during the delegation's visit was the oversight of the EU Spade project, which is co-financed by the EU with PHP1.037 billion and supported by the German government with PHP204 million. This project is part of the EU Mindanao Peace and Development Programme, supporting the development of conflict-sensitive and climate-smart value chains and promoting investments in Mindanao.
From January 14 to 16, the ambassadors are scheduled to meet with farmers demonstrating their climate-smart agricultural practices, particularly as Bukidnon province is positioning itself to become the Arabica coffee capital of the Philippines. Meanwhile, EU delegates are monitoring the progress of the "Tri-Justice Zone," an initiative launched in 2024 involving the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Ozamiz, which focuses on combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials.
