On July 17, 2013, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Lualhati R. Antonino, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Assistant Secretary Howard Cafugauan, Governor of Compostela Valley Arturo Uy, Government of South Cotabato Daisy Avance – Fuentes, Government of North Cotabato Emilio Taliño, Government of Maguindanao Esmael G. Mangudadatu and Counselor, Koichi Ibara of the Embassy of Japan’s Consular Office in Davao led the ceremonial launching of the “Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development Project (MinSAAD).
The MinSAAD project is a yen loan assistance from Japan totaling 6,063 Million Yen. The project is designed to increase agricultural productivity and income of agrarian reform beneficiaries as well as other marginal farmers through provision of small-scale agricultural infrastructure, such as construction of irrigation facilities, post harvest facilities, farm-to-market road, and capacity building support. It seeks to increase competitiveness and ensure viable and sustainable agriculture development in twelve selected settlement areas in three regions in Mindanao covering 205 barangays and 25 municipalities. Around 69,091 agrarian reform beneficiaries are expected to benefit from this project.
The Government of Japan is committed to supporting the Philippine’s nation building efforts, in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). This five year MinSAAD project is aligned and supportive of the development thrusts of the PDP. Both the two Governments recognize the need to contribute to ensure food security and further improve self-sufficiency through rationalization of agricultural land use.
In his speech, Councelor Ibara expressed that this project would assist the Philippine Government’s efforts to preserve and strengthen the human assets and livelihoods that were the foundation of stability, peace and development in Mindanao, and reaffirmed Japan’s continuous support to the on-going peace-building and rehabilitation efforts in Mindanao.
Japan as the top donor to Mindanao, has been proactive in its unwavering assistance and efforts to concretize lasting peace and stability building in Mindanao. As a strategic partner and a friendly neighbor of the Philippines, Japan has implemented a wide range of support projects for more than a decade for peace and development in Mindanao.
Speech of Counselor Koichi Ibara
Japanese Version
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