THE PHILIPPINES
and Japan have entered into
a five-grant contract targeting social development in Mindanao ,
a statement by the Japanese Embassy said yesterday.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa took part in signing
ceremonies in Cotabato
City
The projects, collectively worth P20 million, will be funded through the
Embassy’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) as part
of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development
(J-BIRD).
The Embassy said since the launch of J-BIRD in 2006, assistance to Mindanao has reached over $200 million. Mr. Ishikawa said
Japan will continue to
support efforts for peace and stability in Mindanao
through J-BIRD and other development assistance programs.
The projects cover the following: Provision of agriculture farm tractor for
small and marginalized Bangsamoro farmers in Lanao del Norte; reconstruction of
classrooms for Al Azhaire Academy in Cotabato, Maguindanao; construction of
classrooms at the Bayugan National Comprehensive High School in Bayugan, Agusan
del Sur; construction of a one-unit, five-elevated classroom school nuilding at
the Kalbugan Elementary School in Pagalungan, Cagayan de Oro; and procurement
of equipment and construction of postharvest facilities for farmers in the
municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Ampatuan, in particular, is notable for being the scene of an internationally condemned massacre in 2009. From the perspective of development, Ampatuan is an agriculture municipality heavily dependent on its rice and corn industry, the Embassy said in its statement -- as it noted the challenges of “low productivity,” “high cost of production,” and “high rental fees” of equipment.
The Embassy cited the Lower Riverside Multi-purpose Cooperative (LRFMPC) in Ampatuan as one of several proponents in the development projects inMindanao .
“For the past years, LRFMPC are engaged in providing loan to their members at minimal interest rate to help them in their farming business. They also provided tolling services for their postharvest facilities to further improve not only their members’ productivity and income but also other farmers in Ampatuan,” the statement said.
But challenges remain. “In 2011, an armed conflict happened in Ampatuan. This incident resulted [in the] destruction of the cooperative’s office building and postharvest machineries, thus, temporarily stop[ping] their services to the farmers.”
Ampatuan, in particular, is notable for being the scene of an internationally condemned massacre in 2009. From the perspective of development, Ampatuan is an agriculture municipality heavily dependent on its rice and corn industry, the Embassy said in its statement -- as it noted the challenges of “low productivity,” “high cost of production,” and “high rental fees” of equipment.
The Embassy cited the Lower Riverside Multi-purpose Cooperative (LRFMPC) in Ampatuan as one of several proponents in the development projects in
“For the past years, LRFMPC are engaged in providing loan to their members at minimal interest rate to help them in their farming business. They also provided tolling services for their postharvest facilities to further improve not only their members’ productivity and income but also other farmers in Ampatuan,” the statement said.
But challenges remain. “In 2011, an armed conflict happened in Ampatuan. This incident resulted [in the] destruction of the cooperative’s office building and postharvest machineries, thus, temporarily stop[ping] their services to the farmers.”
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=phl-japan-enter-into-contract-on-five-development-projects-in-mindanao&id=124529
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