Japan Extends 1.84-B Yen Grant Aid to PH

The Japanese government is extending 1.84-billion yen (roughly PHP892.69 million) grant aid to the Philippines for a flood control project in Cagayan de Oro River Basin and for human resource development scholarship.

Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Yoshio Wada on Monday signed the grant aid for the two projects, as part of JICA’s support to help improve the quality of lives of Filipinos and contribute to the country’s sustainable and inclusive development.

The 1.278-billion yen (PHP621 million) project Improvement of Flood Forecasting and Warning System for Cagayan de Oro River Basin was requested by the Philippines from JICA to help reduce flood risks in Northern Mindanao.

“We are confident that through this Project, and with Japan’s expertise and state-of-the-art technology, we will be more resilient against flood-related disasters in the Cagayan de Oro River Basin, the longest river basin in the country,” said Pernia, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary.

Under JICA’s development cooperation, a flood forecasting and warning network will be established in partnership with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

JICA will support both hard (radar, rainfall gauges and water level sensors) and soft infrastructure (capacity building of counterparts) to help ensure accurate flood forecasting and timely flood warnings.

Pernia commended partners from the Japanese government and JICA for their continued support for the Philippine government’s efforts related to disaster resiliency, noting the country has endured a wide array of natural disasters,

Meanwhile, the 563-million yen project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) aims to help young people working in government by giving them study opportunities in Japan and contribute to Philippine development upon return.

A total of 319 Filipinos have already been granted this scholarship, and 21 more professionals from government have been accepted this year.

Now on its 16th year of implementation, Pernia noted the JDS continues to be relevant and within the goals and strategies in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022.

He said the PDP provides for the strengthening of the civil service, enhancement of labor capacities and improvement of service delivery, with human capital development particularly higher education, serving as an accelerator of innovation and inclusive economic prosperity.

“This will surely contribute to our efforts in ramping up economic activities, and particularly in the infrastructure sector,” he added.

For his part, Wada said “the Human Resource Development Scholarship project not only strengthens the relationship of JICA and the Philippines through people-to-people exchange, it also gives us the chance to share Japan’s accumulated knowledge and expertise to promote inclusive development.” (PNA)