The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has committed support to the at least 13 big-ticket infrastructure projects in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Thursday, Aug. 18.
DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan said among those projects were he widening of 23-kilometer Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Project Phase 3 in the Province of Bulacan and the improvement and maintenance of about 1,184-kilometers arterial roads all over the country.
He said the expression of support was made by Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa during his visit to the DPWH.Present during the meeting were Economic Minister Masahiro Nakata and Second Secretary Tomohiro Matsubara of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines; Senior Representatives Kenji Kuronuma, Masanari Yanagiuchi, and Yo Ebisawa of JICA Philippines Office; and officials from the DPWH.
Bonoan acknowledged the Japanese government as being the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Philippines, with grants, loans and technical assistance provided all over the country since 1966.
The recent , according to Bonoan, was the Islamic City of Marawi has also benefited from a 2 billion Japanese yen or approximately ₱970 Million donation/grant for the design and build of 18.97-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 under the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City.
JICA is also financing the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) connecting roads of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to other regions; including another 18.78-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3, said Bonoan. (Jun Marcos Tadios)