Japanese Charge d'Affaires ad interim Hidenobu Sobashima announced on June 17 the Government of Japan's approval to finance Construction of Japan-ARMM Friendship Hall and Training Center, and Equipment supply for Improvement of Road Network in ARMM under the Japanese Non-Project Grant Assistance- Countervalue Fund (NPGA-CVF).
Regarding Construction of Japan-ARMM Friendship Hall and Training Center, this project, amounting to 34.6 million pesos (wherein 28.8 million pesos is funded through the NPGA-CVF), aims to establish a training center for Human Resource Development Programs of ARMM's 24 regional line agencies and adjacent administrative regions and cities. The proposed building will house the ARMM Development Academy (ADA) in charge of sustaining and harmonizing the region's Human Resource Development programs, training rooms, and conference hall, among others. About 90 trainings, workshops, seminars are planned to be accommodated in this building.
In addition to on-going Japanese ODA projects, such as a dispatch of Senior Advisor for Regional Development of ARMM, or ARMM Human Capacity Development Project, we expect that this project will also contribute to human resource development of the ARMM and other local government units in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao .
Regarding Equipment supply for Improvement of Road Network in ARMM, this project, amounting to 158.37 million pesos (wherein 141.4 million pesos is funded through NPGA-CVF), aims to equip the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of ARMM with a new fleet of equipment necessary for the construction, improvement, and maintenance of its road network.
In order to improve economic infrastructure of ARMM region, Japan is conducting the ARMM Social Fund for Peace and Development Project, and the Study on Infrastructure (Road Network) Development Plan for the ARMM. We expect that both of these Japanese ODA projects will coordinate with each other and show synergized impact on this issue.
Both approved NPGA-CVF projects exemplify Japan's active roll in the reconstruction and development of Mindanao. In this context, Japan strongly supports the efforts by all parties concerned to end the long standing conflict in Mindanao through the peace process, and strongly hopes that peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be resumed immediately.
