The Philippines and Japan have officially ratified an agreement, valued at PHP376 million, aimed at supporting road development and emergency response efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
This non-project grant aid (NPGA) from Japan was formalized through diplomatic notes signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko.
The signing occurred during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s two-day official visit to Manila and carries a total worth of JPY957 million (equivalent to approximately USD6.8 million or PHP376 million), according to the DFA.
The NPGA’s primary focus is to facilitate the acquisition of construction equipment for road network enhancement and efficient disaster response operations within the Bangsamoro region.
Its objectives encompass providing support for relief operations, including the restoration and maintenance of vital access roads, bridges, and waterways, as well as extending aid during times of calamities and disasters, as stated by the DFA.
Furthermore, it seeks to address the heightened impact of flooding exacerbated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region.
Notably, the NPGA stands as a grant mechanism designed to assist developing nations by offering foreign currency funding for the importation of goods incorporating Japanese technologies, addressing specific economic or social needs.
(ai/mnm)