Above photo shows Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura (fourth from left) together with United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) Representative to the Philippines Stephen Anderson (second from left) showing a bag of rice, which is part of the 8,160 metric tons of rice, as the Government of Japan's emergency food aid to IDPs in the Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao provided through the WFP. Looking on are from left, DSWD Representative Hadja Sambai Salik Suwait, Province of Maguindanao Administrator Engr. Norie Unas and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Norio Matsuda. Photo below shows the actual distribution of rice assistance to IDPs in the Municipality of Datu Piang, Maguindanao on August 26, 2009. |
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura together with United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) Representative to the Philippines Stephen Anderson, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Norio Matsuda and Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM) Bai Soraida Biruar led the turnover ceremonies for the initial batch of rice assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mindanao on August 26, 2009 at Datu Piang, Maguindanao. The assistance is part of eleven shipments of 8,160 metric tons of rice amounting to approximately 9.5 Million US Dollars, as the Government of Japan's emergency food aid to IDPs in the Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao provided through the WFP.
Last January 27, 2009, Grant Agreement for the emergency food aid was signed and exchanged between JICA, implementing organization of Japan's Official Development Assistance, and the WFP, witnessed by the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, the DSWD Secretary and officials from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Diplomatic Notes for this emergency aid had been signed and exchanged in Rome on January 23, 2009 between Japanese Ambassador to Italy Hiroyasu Ando and WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu .
Earlier in 2006, Japan provided a food aid package amounting to 280 Million Yen (approximately 2.8 Million USD) for IDPs in the Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao also through the WFP. This subsequent aid which is relatively larger in scale will reach more IDPs in these areas.
In his remarks, Ambassador Katsura signified Japan's continuing efforts to facilitate the peace building process in Mindanao and highlighted that this succeeding assistance would provide a crucial leverage to the rehabilitation efforts for improving the plight of IDPs.
Ambassador Katsura also mentioned the Joint Statement issued as a result of the meeting between Prime Minister Aso and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last June 2009, where Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso emphasized the importance of early resumption of peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the MILF as well as of exercising maximum self-restraint to avoid escalation of hostilities in the region. President Arroyo requested Japan 's cooperation including the continued presence of two advisers in the International Monitoring Team (IMT). Prime Minister Aso expressed his full support and willingness to provide assistance for the progress of the peace process. In this regard, Japan welcomes the Government's Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF's Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA), which were announced last month. Japan hopes for an early resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and MILF.
Japan has been implementing a wide range of support projects for reconstruction and development in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao down to the grassroots level. Since the launch of the J-BIRD, namely Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development in 2006, the Japanese Government has carried out 32 Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) amounting to a total of 238 Million Yen (approximately 2.1 Million USD), and through the Yen loan scheme, the ARMM Social Fund for Peace and Development Project (2,470 Million Yen or approximately 27.2 Million USD), among others. Through these projects, various kinds of infrastructure such as schools, training centers, water supply systems, and roads have been rehabilitated or constructed. In addition, Japan has been conducting the Study for Socio-Economic Reconstruction and Development of the Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (600 Million Yen or approximately 6.5 Million USD) since FY 2006 in anticipation of massive needs of reconstruction and development, once final peace agreement is attained in the area. (Please see the attached sheet.)
Late last year, Japan extended assistance to IDPs in the Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao through a GGP project which included the provision of sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, polyethylene containers, and sheets for tents amounting to US$81,853.
Japan sincerely hopes that this emergency food aid through the WFP would help ease the humanitarian crisis in Mindanao and facilitate all efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speech of Ambassador Makoto Katsura 1
Speech of Ambassador Makoto Katsura 2
J-BIRD
(Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development) Fact Sheet
