Japanese govt continues support for Marawi rehab

THE road network rehabilitation of warravaged Marawi City will continue in spite of the continuing battle against the coronavirus pandemic, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the international funding agencies, has assured.

In a statement, JICA said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to implement the Marawi Transcentral Road Phases 1 and 2, Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3 and construct Marawi City Ring Road.

JICA said establishing the 61.77-kilometer road connectivity could help fuel economic activities in Marawi and speed up its rehabilitation, three years after experiencing five-month-long violent clashes between Philippine armed forces and militants.

Filipinos residing in Cotabato, Zamboanga and Maguindanao have difficulty accessing Marawi’s trading centers, JICA noted.

“The road projects in Marawi are essential to help the people get back on their feet, boost economic opportunities, and enable the people of Marawi to access public services like health, housing, and water supply among others,” said JICA chief representative Azukizawa Eigo.

The Japanese organization has been supporting human security including poverty alleviation and peace building in conflictaffected areas like Mindanao.

Since 2002, JICA has supported Mindanao’s peace and development through community development, socioeconomic infrastructure and capacity building.