Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa will sign five (5) grant contracts with respective recipient organizations for various social development projects in conflict - affected areas in Mindanao at 14:00 on March 14, 2016 at Alnor Hotel in Cotabato city, Maguindanao. 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 Sec. Senen Bacani, Member of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with Moro Islamic Liberation, Commissioner Abdulla Camlian of The Bangsamoro Transition Commission, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, Charman of Bangsamoro Development Authority and so on.
The new package of assistance, amounting to 480,598 US dollars (approximately 20 million pesos), will form part of Japan's commitment to peace and development efforts in Mindanao. The package includes 3 projects in education and 2 projects in agriculture.
1. “The Project for the Procurement of Equipment and Construction of Postharvest Facilities for the Farmers of the Municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao”
2. “The Project for the Provision of Agriculture Farm Tractor for Small and Marginalized Bangsamoro Farmers in Lanao del Norte”
3. “The Project for the Reconstruction of Classrooms for Al Azhaire Academy in Cotabato, Maguindanao”
4. “The Project for the Construction of Clasrooms for Bayugan National Comprehensive High School in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur”
5. “Construction of One (1)-Unit, Five (5)- Elevated Classroom School Building at Kalbugan Elementary School”
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 87 grant assistances including the above-mentioned projects with a total amount of 7.67 million US dollars through GGP under J-BIRD.
(※) Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for conflict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development). Their total amount is over 19 billion yen. Furthermore, when President Aquino made a state visit to Japan last June, Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, expressed at their summit meeting his support for efforts by the Government of the Philippines to secure enduring peace in Mindanao, and stated that the Government of Japan will promote the J-BIRD II (Note), in view of the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.
(Note: A new phase of the J-BIRD that will focus more on ensuring economic autonomy in the Bangsamoro Area.
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Japanese Version
