Since the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the Northeastern part of Japan last March 11, many Filipino people have kindly extended their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the people of Japan, especially to those affected by this calamity. The Embassy of Japan hereby expresses its sincere appreciation to these messages.
While struggling with the aftermath of the mentioned earthquake and tsunami, Japan continues to support the development of the conflict affected areas in Mindanao based on its policy shown in the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development, or J-BIRD. The J-BIRD was launched in 2006 to pursue Japan's commitment to the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura will sign nine (9) grant contracts for various social development projects in the areas in Mindanao. These projects are the fifth batch of the assistance under the J-BIRD funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The signing of the grant contracts is going to take place:
at 2:00 pm
on March 25, 2011
at Astoria Plaza Hotel.
This new package of assistance will form part of Japan's commitment to support ing peace and development efforts in Mindanao. Th is package includes the construction of five (5) school buildings, two (2) training centers, a floating school, and a post-harvest facility . For the outline of the projects, please refer to Annex I.
Since the launching of the J-BIRD, Japan has supported 50 grassroots projects in the total amount of 3. 8 m illion US dollars or about 217 m illion pesos. In addition to these grassroots projects, various other assistance projects have also been implemented under the J-BIRD as described in Annex II.
The event will be witnessed by major stakeholders in the Mindanao Peace Process such as the OPAPP Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles; Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Luwalhati Antonino; Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) Major General Dato Mahdi Bin Yusof; G RP -Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) Chairman Brigadier General Reynaldo Ardo; MILF-CCCH Chairman Said Sheikh, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Executive Director Mr. Mohammad Shuaib Yacob ; and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Norio Matsuda .
In assistance for the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, Japan has also dispatched two socio-economic development experts. Recently, Japan has renewed its membership to the IMT by dispatching two (2) Senior Advisors for Reconstruction and Development, Mr. Naoyuki Ochiai and Mr. Kei Fukunaga. In addition, Japan is also 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.
While Japan has no intention whatsoever to interfere the domestic affairs of Mindanao, Japan, as a strategic partner of the Philippines, strongly supports the efforts by all parties concerned to end the long standing conflict in Mindanao through the peace process, and strongly hope s that peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF will come up with a negotiated and peaceful settlement to end the decades-long armed conflicts and to enable the people to enjoy the dividends of peace.
ANNEX I (List of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) under J-BIRD - Fiscal Year 2010)
ANNEX II (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development [J-BIRD])
