The Japanese government will provide food aid to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), benefiting thousands of fishing and farming households in the region.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko and World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director of the Philippines Brenda Barton signed on Thursday, Nov. 4, a food grant aid project to BARMM worth 350 million yen.
Through the grant aid, the WFP as the implementer, will procure 1,788 metric tons of Japanese-produced rice.
The initiative seeks to support 9,877 farming and fishing households, including decommissioned combatants and indigenous peoples in Bangsamoro, the Japanese Embassy said.
"To supplement the food and nutrition needs of the targeted population, the Japanese rice will be fortified with iron prior to distribution," it added.
Provision of technical assistance by the WFP to the target communities will further strengthen and assist in restoring their livelihoods. The WFP will also collaborate with the BARMM government to co-implement this project.
Through this project, vulnerable and conflict-affected communities in BARMM are expected to have improved food security, resilience, and livelihood, which will enhance peace and achieve development in the region.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, and BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform Deputy Minister Ammal Solaiman witnessed the signing of the grant aid.