Japan grants ¥1.8B to boost socioeconomic infra, create jobs in Bangsamoro

The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has extended a ¥1.8 billion grant to the Philippines for the further stabilization of the peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through socioeconomic infrastructure.

In a statement on Tuesday, JICA a grant agreement was signed by NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and JICA chief representative Sakamoto Takema.

The grant project Programme for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in Bangsamoro Region aims to “further promote and stabilize the peace process in the BARMM through urgent reconstruction of the Provincial/City Manpower and Development Center (PCMD) in Marawi City and improvement of other socioeconomic infrastructures,” according to the bilateral aid agency.

JICA added that the grant will also include improving the Regional Manpower Training Center in the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat and Basilan as well as improving farm-to-market roads in some barangays in conflict-affected areas.

“Based on thorough understanding of the aspirations and challenges of our counterparts on the ground, our projects aim to realize and build back better society and generate high quality growth for the Bangsamoro people with the concept of sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness. We hope that this grant assistance project generates economic growth in the midst of changing times, which contributes to the stability and prosperity of the whole Philippines. JICA has been and will always be the closest and the most reliable partner of the people in the Philippines,” said Sakamoto.

The aid agency said that sites of the subprojects include Marawi City, the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, and Basilan among other conflict-affected areas.

The Bangsamoro Infrastructure Needs Survey, conducted from December 2018 to February 2019 by JICA, served as basis for the potential socioeconomic infrastructure projects that the grant agreement will support, it added.

“The signing of the Grant Agreement for the Programme for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in Bangsamoro will further strengthen the cooperation between our two governments. Through the rebuilding and improvement of the techno-vocational training centers and the construction of farm-to-market-roads, we expect more accessible economic opportunities as people are empowered through skills development and enrichment and improvement of market trade,” said Chua.

For his part, BARMM chief Minister Ahod  Ebrahim said, “By reconstructing a technical and vocational center in Marawi City and improving other socioeconomic infrastructures across the BARMM, JICA helps us in providing better opportunities for our people and a more sustainable region for all.”

Likewise, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said, “Nation building starts with human resource development, and this project… will be one major step towards providing useful and practical vocational training opportunities to the people in Marawi, Sultan Kudarat and Basilan, as well as people in the surrounding areas.”

JICA said it has been supporting the peace-building process in the Bangsamoro with the Government of the Philippines and Japan through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development since 2006.

The aid agency’s recent projects for peace and development in Mindanao include the Comprehensive Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CCDP), Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CDPB) for building the foundation of governance, strengthening public service delivery and community development and dispatch JICA experts as special advisors.

JICA said it has also emphasized on economic development through loan and grant projects such as $202-million Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) linking Mindanao’s key cities as well as the program for support for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City and its surrounding areas.—AOL, GMA News