A new Australian government initiative aimed at strengthening social protection, inclusion, and gender equality in the Philippines was officially launched Thursday in Makati City during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) annual Partnership Forum.

The five-year, P1.5-billion Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program will see the Australian and Philippine governments collaborating as strategic partners to reduce poverty and create equal opportunities for Filipinos.

SPRING will strengthen the Philippines’ social protection programs through technical assistance, capacity building, and fostering evidence-based policy reforms. It will also 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 HK Yu and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian signed a subsidiary agreement on the SPRING program, set to run from 2024 to 2029.

Ambassador Yu noted the new program’s importance in achieving the two countries’ shared vision outlined in the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029.