Hely met with reporters and assessed the peace situation in Southern Philippines.

Hely said that Australia is optimistic that the Philippine government will succeed in forging a peace agreement with the mainstream rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but doubts if it could be done this year.

Australia is a major donor country to the Philippines for its peace and development programs geared to hasten the peace process and rehabilitate post-conflict areas in Mindanao ruined by decades of insurgencies caused by communist and separatists.

The diplomat said that Australia chose the media as its major partner in Mindanao due to the sector’s similar efforts aimed at advancing multiculturalism, peace and development, a key component to enhancing the peace process with rebel groups.

"We have chosen the media as a major partner in Mindanao because of commonalities between Australia and Philippines. Both are very active and articulate in promoting multiculturalism, peace and development," Hely said.

The Australian ambassador and Counselor Angus Mcdonald arrived yesterday at the posh seaside Waterfront Insular Hotel here and interacted with 30 journalists in print and broadcast from Mindanao.

Philippine Information Agency Assistant Director General Efren Elbanbuena for south-central, western cluster, said the forum is a part of the activities of seven Mindanao journalists sent to Australia.

The Australian Assistance for International Development (AusAID) sponsored the delegation’s summer course on Conflict-Media Resolving at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on Jan. 10-19, 2006.

The envoy said Australia’s success as a multicultural society may be attributed to the active role of media in promoting unity in diversity, citing SBS Radio Australia, which broadcasts in over 20 languages, including the Filipino.

"SBS Radio Australia’s broadcast serve as a linking arm among Australia’s many multi-ethnic people, ensuring harmonious co-existence among peoples," Hely said, disclosing former Filipino journalists are manning Filipino broadcast section.

He said the Philippines and Australian media act as watchdog, reporting corruption, and ensuring that good governance prevails, as well as, acting as vanguards of freedom of the press and public expression.

"These commonalities make perfect partners for Mindanao’s efforts towards peace and prosperity. Most of all, Australia recognizes the important role of media in very aspect of our societies," the envoy said.

In 2003, AusAid funded the initiative of the Cagayan Press Club to promote reporting on corruption ending with a journalists’ manual on reporting corruption.