Mindanao peace efforts get P1.5-B grant

Following the ratification of the organic law creating the Bangsamoro region, Japan has ramped up commitments in projects promoting peace and development in war-torn Mindanao through fresh grants worth a total of 3.2 billion yen (about P1.5 billion).

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the Japanese government would extend the following grants: 1.8 billion yen to build Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training centers in Marawi City, as well as Basilan and Sultan Kudarat provinces, 560 million yen to provide well-drilling machines and underground water detecting machines, 340 million yen to purchase vehicles and equipment through the United Nations Development Program.

Also, the grant assistance will provide 300 million yen for the development of water facilities through the International Labor Organization, on top of 200 million yen in livelihood assistance to farmers and fishermen through the Food and Agriculture Organization.

These grants were announced by the Japanese government during the seventh Japan-Philippines Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation meeting held in Osaka on Thursday.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III led the Philippine delegation, while Japanese side was headed by Hiroto Izumi, special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“Our regular meetings have proven fruitful as seen in our ever-improving efficient channels and long list of accomplishments. I am convinced that through our regular meetings, both our governments are prompted to deliver on our commitments, and are encouraged to think of more innovative measures to improve our cooperation and facilitate project implementation,” Dominguez said during the meeting.

For his part, Izumi congratulated the Philippine government for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“Japan is ready to send our support to the progress made in the peace process. At the same time, I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to the victims who were killed or injured by the recent terror attacks that occurred somewhere in Mindanao,” Izumi said, referring to the bombings in Jolo, Sulu, as well as Zamboanga City after the plebiscite.

The fresh grant assistance will be complemented by the $202-million loan from Japan for the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao.

The loan agreement for this road project will be the next to be signed by the Philippine and Japanese governments.

The DOF quoted the Japanese government as saying that it already “finished the necessary procedures to sign the loan agreement [for the road project] and is expecting to do so at the earliest possible time once the Philippine side secures the necessary government approvals.”

In a speech during Friday’s Philippine Economic Briefing also in Osaka, Dominguez noted that since the Duterte administration came into office in 2016, the Philippines and Japan already signed seven loan agreements for flagship infrastructure projects.

These big-ticket projects to be financed by loans from Japan included the country’s first subway system.