By Betheena Unite Funding for the improvement works of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel have been officially granted to the Philippines from the government of Japan, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.   The Government of the Philippines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Monday an official development assistance (ODA) for the financing of Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase IV amounting to P18.223 billion. According to the department, the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase IV will cover channel improvement works for middle Marikina River from the downstream of Mangahan Floodway to Marikina Bridge Sto. Nino. It also includes the construction of Marikina Control Gate Structure and construction of two floodgates at the joining sections of Cainta and Taytay Rivers to Mangahan Floodway. Japanese flood mitigation technology will be adopted in Phase IV to complement the completed Pasig River Channel Improvement under Phase II and Lower Marikina River Channel Improvement including remaining works in Pasig River under Phase III which are also mainly funded by the Japanese government. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the project is part of the long-term solutions against flood disasters in the area. The project is also under the government’s infrastructure project -- Build Build Build. During the signing ceremony, the loan agreement under JICA for the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project of the Department of Transportation was also signed. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and JICA Southeast Asia and Pacific Department Director General Shigenori Ogawa spearheaded the signing of the loan agreement. Villar and Japan Embassy to Manila Minister and Consul General Atsushi Kuwabara were also present to witness the event.