DAVAO CITY — Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko had a meeting with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte where the leaders discussed the Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan and Capacity Building Project (IM4Davao).
In a statement on Sunday, Nov. 21, the City Government of Davao said the meeting was attended by City Administrator, Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Second Secretary for Economic Section of the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Matsubara Tomohiro, and Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Azukizawa Eigo.
The mayor expressed her gratitude for the technical support for the implementation of the WTE project of Davao City from the Japanese Government.
"Highlighted during the meeting is the Capacity Building Project for Davao City or the IM4Davao (Infrastructure Modernization for Davao), its components on Flood Control and the Sewerage and Septage Masterplan," it added.
Prior to the meeting of the leaders, the delegation from Japan also visited the city's only sanitary landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok District.
According to the IM4Davao Final Report Summary published in 2018, the project has a long-term solid waste management plan for 2045 for the city where waste treatment will include "Waste-to-Energy process and disposal of ash from the Waste-to-Energy facility in a landfill, composting in MRFs and other waste recycling" aside from the disposal of waste in the current landfill.
The parties also discussed the Smart JAMP or the Smart City Japan ASEAN Mutual Partnership.
"Through the Smart JAMP, the Japanese Government will share its technical expertise particularly in the field of Traffic Management for Davao City," the city government said.
"Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said he was grateful for the assistance extended by the local government in the implementation of the Davao Bypass project through visa assistance, road right of way conferences, and vaccination of project workers," it added.