Japanese Government remains committed to peace and development efforts in Mindanao - JICA official

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 26): Japanese Government remains committed to peace and development efforts in Mindanao - JICA official

The  Japanese  government   remains  true to its  commitment  to  support the  peace and order  efforts in Mindananao, an official of the   Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA President Akihiko Tanaka made this pronouncement   during his  visit here on Monday to  turnover a  two-classroom building to Kibleg Elementary School  IN North Upi, Maguindanao.

The construction of said school building was funded through the JICA and implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

Tanaka was accompanied by JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Noriaki Niwa, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal, Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Exec. Dir. Mohammad Yacob, and International Monitoring Team (IMT-10) Head of Mission MGen. Datu Sheikh Mokhsin Bin Sheikh Hassan.

Said  school building is among the 20 ongoing Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) jointly identified by the JICA and BDA in support of the peace process in Mindanao to help boost inclusive development in the region.

“This is financed through a QIP which is a small scale low cost project being implemented in a short period of time which addresses immediate community needs,” Tanaka said.

According to Tanaka, aside from working with local communities throughout the region, JICA’s QIP also includes multi-purpose halls, warehouses with solar dryer and renovation/expansion of school building/classrooms in 20 sites in the provinces of Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Sarangani, Tawi-Tawi, Sultan Kudarat, Compostella Valley, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga Sibugay.

These communities are identified as among the most affected by armed conflicts.

He added that after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last March 2014, he met with MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim where they both agreed to start the implementation of QIP as part of trust and confidence building between and  among the stakeholders of the peace process.

Tanaka said, both JICA and the MILF counterparts believed that QIPs would be a great way for the Bangsamoro communities to feel immediate peace dividends for people to remain hopeful on the benefits of the peace process.

In 2013, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and JICA started the Comprehensive Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro (CCDP-B) undertook cooperation activities include assistance in public consultations for drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), support in drafting the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), human resource development, capacity building and seminars in Tokyo to know more about Japan system of governance, and the implementation of QIP, Tanaka said.

He said, for the past 17 years, the peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the MILF had experienced several challenges including the breakdown of MOA-AD in 2008, Mamasapano incident of January 2015 and the prolonged deliberations of the BBL.

However, he said, the Japanese government and JICA have remained steadfast in their commitment in supporting the peace process and promote development in the Bangsamoro area.

As this developed,  Tanaka encouraged the students and school children to study hard and always listen to their parents and teachers citing education is one of the greatest things parents can give their children to ensure better future and personal growth.(

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1661440547489/japanese-government-remains-committed-to-peace-and-development-efforts-in-mindanao---jica-official