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MANILA, Philippines?Japanese Ambassador to Manila Makoto Katsura will sign eight grant contracts for various social development projects in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
This is the fourth batch of assistance under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
J-BIRD was launched in 2006 to pursue Japan?s commitment to the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Since the launching, Japan has already supported 32 grassroots projects in the total amount of $2.1 million or about P95 million.
This new package of assistance amounting to $732,447 or about P33 million will form part of Japan?s commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao. This package includes the construction of three school buildings, two training centers, a women?s crisis center, a potable water supply system, and a rural health unit. The signing of the grant contracts is going to take place at 11 a.m. on March 22, 2010 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
The event will be witnessed by major stakeholders of the Mindanao Peace Process such as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Annabelle Abaya; GRP Peace Panel Chairman Rafael Seguis; the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Vice Chairman, Dr. Safullah Dipatuan; and Major General Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).
Earlier, Japan also decided to redeploy two development experts, Tomonori Kikuchi, First Secretary, and Yusuke Mori, Second Secretary to the IMT, which resumed its operations last February. Both experts are expected to contribute to the socio-economic development aspect of the IMT. Last December, Japan also decided to participate in 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. As a member of ICG, Japan has been actively engaged in the peace process since then.
