CAGAYAN DE ORO(January 27 — The European Union ambassador and the ambassadors of EU member states in the Philippines conducted a first-ever joint official visit to Northern Mindanao, aiming to deepen engagement with local stakeholders and explore opportunities for expanded cooperation in development, governance, and climate action.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said the visit underscores the bloc’s long-term commitment to Mindanao, noting that the EU has invested more than ₱9.6 billion in the island since 2020, making it one of the country’s largest grant contributors.
“We are pleased to visit Mindanao jointly for the first time. Since 2020, the EU has invested more than ₱9.6 billion in Mindanao,” Santoro said. “We thank Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and all the local government officials, government agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and the press for the very warm welcome.”
Santoro also acknowledged the “strong commitment of local governments and civil society to good governance and green, inclusive growth,” particularly in Northern Mindanao.
The diplomatic mission marks the first coordinated visit of EU and EU member state ambassadors to the region. The delegation met with Senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri, Bukidnon Representatives Jonathan Keith Tello Flores and Jose Manuel Alba, Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy, and Impasug-ong Mayor Jetaime Okinlay-Gumban.
The visiting ambassadors included representatives from the European Union, Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, as well as chargés d’affaires from Poland and Spain.
Climate-smart agriculture, coffee value chains
As part of the visit, the ambassadors met with farmers in Bukidnon showcasing climate-smart agricultural practices, as the province positions itself as the Arabica coffee capital of the Philippines.
The delegation was briefed on the EU-funded Sustainable Partnership for Agricultural Development and Expansion (SPADE) project, which supports a cooperative-led approach through shared assets, institutional purchasing, and modern technology to improve production scale and quality.
As of mid-2025, SPADE has assisted 7,225 farming households, with 74 percent adopting climate-smart practices, exceeding project targets.
The SPADE project is co-financed by the European Union (₱1.037 billion) and the German government (₱204 million) and forms part of the EU Mindanao Peace and Development Program (MinPAD-RISE), which promotes conflict-sensitive, climate-resilient value chains and investment in Mindanao.
Justice reform, child protection
The visit also highlighted EU support for justice sector reform and child protection in Northern Mindanao.
Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Ozamiz City form a “Tri-City Justice Zone” focused on addressing Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).
Launched in September 2024 by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), the justice zone in Region X is supported by the EU-GOJUST program, which aims to strengthen coordination among courts, police, prosecutors, local governments, and civil society.
The Tri-City Justice Zone seeks to streamline justice delivery, improve prosecution, and strengthen victim support systems. The EU currently supports 16 justice zones nationwide under the GOJUST program.
EU officials said the Northern Mindanao visit reflects a broader strategy to align peacebuilding, climate resilience, agricultural development, and justice reform in regions critical to long-term, inclusive growth.
