Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe will sign eight (8) grant contracts for various social development projects in conflict - affected areas in Mindanao. The signing of the grant contracts will take place
at 9 am,
on March 22, 2012
at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
These projects are the sixth batch of assistance under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Developmen t (J-BIRD) funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
J-BIRD was launched in 2006 to pursue Japan's commitment to the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Since its launching, Japan has already supported 58 grassroots projects in the total amount of 4.7 m illion US dollars or about 243 m illion pesos.
This new package of assistance, amounting to 824,653 US dollars or about 34 million pesos, will form part of Japan's commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao. Th is package includes the construction of four (4) school buildings, two (2) post-harvest facilities with agricultural equipment, a training center and the installation of hospital equipment. (The outline of the projects is provided by the attached list.)
The event will be witnessed by major stakeholders in the Mindanao P eace P rocess such as the OPAPP Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles ; Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) Major General Dato Abdul Rahim Bin Mohd Yusuff.
The Government of Japan continues its membership to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) through the contribution of the two (2) Senior Advisors for Reconstruction and Development, Mr. Naoyuki Ochiai and Mr. Kei Fukunaga, who have been providing their expertise in the socio-economic development aspect of Mindanao. In addition, Japan is 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.
These projects exemplify Japan's active role in the reconstruction and development of Mindanao. I n 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 hope s that peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will come up with negotiated and peaceful settlement to end the decades-long armed conflict and for the people to earn the dividends of peace.
List of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) under J-BIRD - Fiscal Year 2011
