Philippines, Japan ink 11 mln USD worth projects in S. Philippines
Xinhua, May 25, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Philippines and Japan forged on Monday an agreement for community development in conflict-affected areas in southern Philippines of Mindanao.
Philippine National Economic and Development Authority Director General Arsenio Balisacan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative to the Philippines Noriaki Niwa signed the grant agreement amounting to almost 500 million pesos ( 11.23 million U.S. dollars).
The fund will be spent for the rehabilitation and construction of farm-to-market roads in Mindanao, particularly in Bumbaran in Lanao del Sur province, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao province, and Alamada in North Cotabato province, Balisacan said.
"Through linking target farm villages to major highways, the project is expected to enhance the welfare of farmers that rely largely in crop production as their main source of livelihood," said Balisacan in his statement during the signing.
The grant assistance was made possible through the Japan- Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development.
The community development project, to be implemented by the Department of Agriculture, was endorsed through diplomatic channels on September 17, 2014. Endi