Japanese consul visits BARMM

COTABATO CITY -- A Japanese diplomatic official has visited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to officially inform regional officials of Japan’s strengthened and revitalized diplomatic office in Davao City of their readiness to serve the Bangsamoro constituents.

Japan Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa on Friday visited Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Speaker Pangalian Balindong at his office here.

Balindong welcomed Miwa, who is the first Consul General of Japan’s Consulate General Office in Davao City.

Miwa told Balindong and the people of BARMM that from a simple consular office, the Japanese government has upgraded it into a consulate general agency to improve its services.

One of the services offered by the consulate general is the visa processing operations where Mindanaoans, including the Bangsamoro people and foreigners in Mindanao, no longer need to travel to Manila for Japanese visas.

The office covers 27 provinces and 33 cities in

Mindanao.

“It’s an honor to serve Mindanao, most especially the Bangsamoro, and that is why we upgraded our simple consular office to the consulate general. The name is almost the same but organization-wise, it’s totally different. Now, we are directly connected to our headquarters,” Miwa told Balindong, explaining the consulate’s improved services.

Balindong took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the Japanese government for all the assistance they have extended to BARMM.

“I have never doubted your capability. We will forever be thankful to the Japanese people,” he said. Miwa said Japan and BARMM should be “great partners.”

“We are Asian countries so we should be helping each other. Our intention is to strengthen our partnership with this region since you have established now the BTA. This is very vital for you to create a new stable system,” he said.

BARMM interim chief minister Ahod “Murad” Ibrahim was present during the opening of the Japanese consulate general in Davao City.

Japan is one of the countries that supported the peace process in Mindanao and had been consistently supporting the sustainable economic development of the Philippines.