Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe will sign eight (8) grant contracts with respective recipient organizations for various social development projects in conflict - affected areas in Mindanao at 10:00 a.m. on March 20, 2014 at Asotria Plaza Hotel. These projects are funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) implemented by the Embassy of Japan as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).
The signing ceremony will be attended by the Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, Executive Director of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Mohammad Shuaib Yacob, Head of Mission of IMT Mggn Datu Abd Samad Bin Yaakub and so on.
The new package of assistance, amounting to 855,325 US dollars (approximately 38 million pesos), will form part of Japan's commitment to peace and development efforts in Mindanao.
The package includes construction of 18 classrooms; an agricultural training center; four vocational training centers mainly targeting youth and women.
"The Project for Construction of Agricultural Training Center
for Talaanding Tribe in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon"
"The Project for Construction of Classrooms
for Sapakan Elementary School in Pagalungan, Maguindanao"
"The Project for Construction of Women Training Center
in Lupon, Davao Oriental"
"The Project for Construction of Classrooms
for Sulon National High School in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao"
"The Project for Construction of Community Technical and Training Center
for Women Empowerment in Malapatan, Sarangani"
"The Project for Construction of Darapanan Youth and Children Center
in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao"
"The Project for Construction of Classrooms for Lamuak Elementary School
in Pikit, North Cotabato"
"The Project for Construction of Center for Capacity Building and Training
in Mati, Davao Oriental"
These projects are part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD), the Japanese government's package of assistance in support of peace and development in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. Since the launch of J-BIRD in 2006, Japan has supported 75 GGP projects in the total amount of 6.8 million US dollars (approximately 300 million pesos) through J-BIRD as of March 2014.
In addition to the GGP support, the Government of Japan has continued to send two senior advisors under the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to assist the reconstruction and development of conflict-affected areas in Mindanao since October 2006. Moreover, since October 2009, Japan has been 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.
Japanese Version
