JICA turns over Bangsamoro geographic information systems to help Mindanao in dev’t planning

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) turned over an updated geographic information systems (GIS) database to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) to further aid Mindanao in development planning and database management. 
 

GIS database refers to geographically referenced data that utilized software to analyze specific information, and is being used by advanced countries in decision-making and in analyzing quantifiable data. In the case of the Bangsamoro GIS database, information such as socio-economic data, transportation, and road networks, as well as land conditions, were analyzed and updated. 
 

“The new GIS database was derived from the data sets produced by the JICA project on Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development in Mindanao. With more detailed geographic information, we aim to assist Bangsamoro development planners and leaders in implementing strategic and balanced peace and development initiatives in Mindanao,” said JICA Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa who handed the GIS database to BDA Chairperson Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan.
 

The GIS database was updated with a standard scale of 1:50,000 which means that they are more detailed than the 1:200,000 scale maps in Mindanao in the 1960s.
 

JICA also provided BDA staff capacity building support in using the GIS system, and added that the GIS would be useful in the spatial analysis work for the forthcoming Bangsamoro Development Forum in November this year.
 

BDA Chair Dipatuan thanked JICA for the assistance saying that the GIS will help them in various peace and development projects for Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas, as well as in promoting inclusive growth in the region.
 

Last year, as part of Japan’s assistance to peace and development, JICA together with the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) updated the 50-year old Mindanao topographic maps. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented the map to President Aquino during the former’s visit to Manila.
 

JICA, meanwhile, vowed to further assist BDA in development planning sector-based priorities to help complete the Transitional Development Plan 2015-2016 (Phase 1) and the Medium Term Development Plan for 2016-2020 (Phase 2) of the Bangsamoro.  
 

Said development plans include gathering data and analyzing potential for improvement of its priority sectors including infrastructure, power, water and disaster management, natural resources, and agro-industry.  
 

Other on-going JICA’s assistance to Mindanao include institution building, capacity building activities for community development in conflict areas, grant aid for road improvement, technical cooperation on rice-based farming technology, and in-country training on local governance and rural empowerment. 
 

JICA has been supporting peace and development in Mindanao with 707 community development and 32 infrastructure sub projects with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

From 2003 to 2013, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA has extended 15.1 billion yen of aid assistance to Mindanao.

Press release from the Japan International Cooperation Agency