Japan to sign 8 J-BIRD Projects today

March 22, 2012: The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines had approved eight (8) projects under the scheme Japan – Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) with the prime intention to push forward the ongoing peace process in Mindanao.

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe will lead the Signing Ceremony for the Project Grant Contracts to be held at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in Manila tomorrow.

Local government units, government schools and nongovernment organizations (NGOs), being the grantees, will implement the projects that caters for social development and community empowerment in the conflict - affected areas in Mindanao.

Japan Embassy bankrolled 34 million pesos for these projects through its scheme Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) that include the construction of four (4) school buildings, two (2) post-harvest facilities with agricultural equipment, a training center and the installation of hospital equipment.

According to the Japan Embassy website, J-BIRD was launched in 2006 to pursue Japan's commitment to the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Since its launching, Japan has already supported 58 grassroots projects in the total amount of 4.7 million US dollars or about 243 million pesos.

The event will be witnessed by OPAPP Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles, and Major General Dato’ Abdul Rahim Bin Mohd Yusoff, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

Japan is a member of the International Contact Group for the Peace Talks between the GPH and MILF, and also has two experts on socio-economic development as contingents joining the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

“These projects exemplify Japan's active role in the reconstruction and development of Mindanao. In this context , Japan strongly supports the efforts by all parties concerned to end the long - standing conflict in Mindanao through the peace process, and strongly hopes that peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will come up with negotiated and peaceful settlement to end the decades-long armed conflict and for the people to earn the dividends of peace.”

MILF Website

http://www.luwaran.com/home/

links:

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2590:japan-to-sign-8-j-bird-projects-today&catid=31:general&Itemid=41

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------