Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa attended the turnover ceremony last March 15, 2016 for “The Project for the Construction of Darapanan Youth and Children Center” in the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The project was approved last FY 2013 and is part of the Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). It was attended by Hon. Al Haj Murad Ibrahim, Chairman of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other officials of MILF.
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) both aspire to achieve peace and stability in Mindanao. Both parties see that the success of the normalization process is the key in putting an end to the unceasing cycle of conflicts and wars and improving the living condition in Mindanao.
Due to the long history of armed conflict in the area, the community has been damaged and the infrastructure development has also been delayed. These predicaments have worsened the poverty incidence in the community, manifested by the poor condition of the 30% of residents who are living below poverty line.
To address this concern, the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) funded the above-mentioned center and training equipment with a total amount of One Hundred Twenty One Thousand Nine Hundred Five US Dollars (USD 121,905) or approximately Php 5.12 million through GGP under J-BIRD (※).The center will be a venue for the conduct of livelihood and technical-vocational trainings such as knowledge and skills in electrical and piping installation for buildings. These trainings are intended to benefit the affected 170 Bangsamoro youth, some of whom were young soldiers who could not have access to education. The project aims to uplift the capacities, increase the income and eventually improve the economic status of these beneficiaries. It is also expected to contribute in boosting the normalization process in Mindanao, and leads to peace and stability in these Bangsamoro areas.
The Government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of present, 518 grassroots projects have been funded by GGP.
(※) Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for confict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Develpoment). Their total amount is over 200 million dollars. 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
