This came after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City, where they talked about the Mindanao peace process, terrorism, and responsible mining. The Islamic State (IS) has called on its fighters to conduct attacks in Australia and the Philippines. To help bring about peace in Mindanao, Abella said Australia pledged $40 million over six years. Abella said Duterte and Bishop also agreed on the importance of securing freedom of navigation and safety at sea. “[Duterte] expressed the Philippines’ interest in learning responsible mining from Australia, citing that country’s experience and expertise,” Abella said.

Source: Manila Times March 17, 2017 16:30 UTC