Japan extends USD 855,325 grant for Mindanao projects to boost peace in the region

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 20): Japan extends USD 855,325 grant for Mindanao projects to boost peace in the region

Japan demonstrated anew its full support to the Philippine government’s peace initiative in Mindanao with the granting of USD 855,325 (P38.48 million) for eight development projects in the region’s conflict-affected areas.

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe formally signed the eight grant contracts in the presence of the respective recipient organizations in ceremonies held at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center in Pasig City on Thursday.

The grant was timely with the scheduled signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on March 27 to end the long-drawn Mindanao armed conflict.

These projects are funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) implemented by the Embassy of Japan as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).

Present at the signing were Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP); Mohammad Shuaib Yacob, executive director of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA); and Maj. Gen. Datu Abd Samad Bin Yaakub, head of mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The new package of assistance will form part of Japan's commitment to peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

The package includes construction of 18 classrooms, an agricultural training center, and four vocational training centers mainly targeting youth and women. The projects are the following:

-- Agricultural Training Center for Talaanding Tribe in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

-- Classrooms for Sapakan Elementary School in Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

-- Women Training Center in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

-- Classrooms for Sulon National High School in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao.

-- Community Technical and Training Center for Women Empowerment in Malapatan, Sarangani.

-- Darapanan Youth and Children Center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

-- Classrooms for Lamuak Elementary School in Pikit, North Cotabato.

-- Construction of Center for Capacity Building and Training in Mati, Davao Oriental.

These projects are part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD), the Japanese government's package of assistance in support of peace and development in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Since the J-BIRD was launched in 2006, Japan has supported 75 GGP projects in the total amount of USD 6.8 million (P300 million pesos).

In addition to the GGP support, the Government of Japan has retained senior advisors in the IMT to assist the reconstruction and development of conflict-affected areas in Mindanao since October 2006.

Since October 2009, Japan has been a member of the International Contact Group (ICG), which performs such roles as giving advice to the parties concerned on the Mindanao peace process and participating in peace talks as observers.

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