Honorable Secretary Lualhati R. Antonino
Mindanao Development Authority
Honorable Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
Honorable Assistant Secretary Howard Cafugauan
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Honorable Governor Arturo Uy
Provincial Government of Compostela Valley
Honorable Governor Daisy Avance - Fuentes
Provincial Government of South Cotabato
Honorable Governor Emilio Taliño
Provincial Government of North Cotabato
Honorable Governor Esmael G. Mangudadatu
Provincial Government of Maguindanao
MinSAAD Project Officers, farmer-beneficiaries,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Maayong buntag kan inyong tanan (Good Morning to all of you).
It is my distinct honor and pleasure to be with you all today and represent the Government of Japan on this momentous occasion which marks a major milestone for the MinSAAD Project. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to all the officials for inviting us to this ceremony.
Agriculture is one of the common features of the Japanese and Filipino People. We respect the farmers and the lands they till. After World War Two Japan successfully implemented land reform in our country. Thus, we also would like to see the success of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the Philippine Government.
Through the years, Japan has continuously assisted various programs and yen loan agrarian reform projects in Mindanao. 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 and capacity building support. It also seeks to increase competitiveness and ensure 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.
It is heartwarming to note that 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. I am pleased to mention that, 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.
In closing, I am confident that this project complements the Philippine Government’s efforts to preserve and strengthen the human assets and livelihoods that are the foundation of stability, peace and development in Mindanao as well as a testimony of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.
Thank you. More power to all of you
