On October 12, 2010, the Government of Japan officially turned over 7,000 metric tons of fertilizers to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines under Japan's 8 th Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) extended in February 2009. These comprise part of the 42,184 metric tons of fertilizers in total worth 700 Million Yen (approximately 354 Million Pesos) procured by the Philippine Government under the 8 th NPGA.
At the port of Poro Point, La Union Province, on October 12, 2010, Japanese Embassy's Minister for Economic Affairs Akio Isomata formally turned over the fertilizers to Regional Technical Director of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 1 Crispulo Bautista. In his speech, Minister Isomata expressed his strong hope that the assistance would serve as another bridge that would strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. The fertilizers procured under the 8 th NPGA will certainly help farmers improve the productivity for the next cropping season.
The fertilizers procured under the 8 th NPGA consist of six (6) shipments. In addition to the last shipment of 7,000 metric tons of fertilizers which was turned over by Minister Isomata on October 12, the other five (5) shipments respectively arrived in (1) Iloilo in April, (2) Davao in June, (3) Batangas in July, (4) Davao in August, and (5) Poro Point in August, 2010, to coincide with the cropping season.
Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo signed and exchanged notes for the 8 th NPGA on February 13, 2009, at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Japan has provided eight (8) batches of the NPGA for the Philippines since 1991. The total value of the eight NPGAs amounts to 15.8 Billion Yen (approximately 8.0 Billion Pesos). These NPGAs have enabled the Philippine Government to procure commodities such as fertilizers, soybean meal, and fuel oil which are necessary for the Philippines to improve its economic structure.
In addition, the Counter-value Fund accumulated by the Philippine Government through selling the commodities procured under the NPGAs has enabled it to implement various projects (Counter-value Fund projects) for its socio-economic development. Notably, the projects include the Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) project (Phase 1-4) and the project to construct the Philippine Judicial Academy Development Center of the Supreme Court in Tagaytay, which was inaugurated in May, 2010.
Japan has been the top ODA donor to the Philippines for many years. The assistance through the NPGA will firmly support the Philippine Government's initiative to reduce poverty and improve its economic structure, and will further enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Speech of Minister Akio Isomata
Japanese Version
