Phl, Japan ink P500-M grant for Mindanao

The Philippines and Japan signed a P500-million grant agreement that will pave the way for community development of the agricultural sector in conflictaffected areas in Mindanao.

Under the agreement, the Philippines will receive a grant amounting to ¥1.117 billion or almost P500 million to facilitate the rehabilitation and construction of farm-to-market roads in Mindanao.

These developments will be implemented through the Department of Agriculture and will be concentrated in Bumbaran in Lanao del Sur, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao, and Alamada in North Cotabato.

“Through linking target farm villages to major highways, the project is expected to enhance the welfare of farmers that rely largely in crop production as their main source of livelihood,” Economic Planning secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said during the signing.

The deal was signed yesterday by Balisacan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippine Office chief representative Noriaki Niwa on behalf of the Philippine and Japanese Governments, respectively.

The grant assistance was made possible through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD), which was endorsed through diplomatic channels on Sept. 17, 2014.

“We look forward to the attainment of full benefi ts from this undertaking and eventually to the enjoyment of ‘dividends of peace’ in Mindanao through the implementation of various peace and development programs in the area,” Balisacan said.

Launched in 2006, the J-BIRD is the Japanese government’s package of assistance in support of peace and development in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

It has supported 82 grant assistance for grassroots human security projects amounting to $7.19 million as of March 2015.