Ambassador Haneda attends the Signing Ceremony of the Exchanges of Notes for the Waste-to-Energy Facilities in Davao City and the Budgetary Support for Marawi Rehabilitation

1. On March 20, Ambassador Koji Haneda, with Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr. Alan Peter Cayetano, attended the signing ceremony of two Exchanges of Notes.

2.  The first Exchange of Notes signed will provide a JPY 5.013 billion (PHP 2.5 billion) grant for the development of waste-to-energy facilities in Davao City. Japan’s grant will be used to construct and manage waste-to-energy facilities to significantly reduce solid wastes and convert it into usable energy. This project is expected to serve as an innovative example of sustainable waste management to other cities in the Philippines.

3.  The second Exchange of Notes signed will provide a JPY 2 billion (PHP 1 billion) grant to the Philippine government to support its utmost efforts for Marawi rehabilitation. This is in addition to the 27 Japanese heavy machineries that were turned over in Marawi City on March 15th and the JPY 1.1 billion (PHP 500 million) grant through the UN-Habitat for shelter construction and livelihood support.

4 At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Haneda stated that the two grants formalized today serve as Japan's pledge to continuously support the Philippines in this “Golden Age of Strategic Partnership,” and that he looks forward to expanding cooperation and further strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines. Secretary Cayetano stated that on behalf of President Duterte and the people of the Philippines, he would like thank Japan, which President Duterte calls “a friend more than a brother.”