A program aiming to reduce ownership of weapons in Basilan supported by the Japanese government was launched on Thursday.
The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines led the opening ceremony of the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security in BARMM (ASPIRE) Project as part of Tokyo’s contribution to the peace process in Mindanao.
According to the embassy, ASPIRE is funded by the Japanese government through a grant aid worth 579 million Japanese Yen (P220.5 million) and is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project, the embassy added, aims to establish not only a a system for the management and reduction of privately-owned Small and Light Weapons (SALWs) but also support the socio-economic development of the residents in target communities selected jointly by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government.
Basilan was selected to be one of the project's pilot sites after a series of discussions among stakeholders.
In a video message, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko expressed his appreciation for the strong commitment and support of the Joint Normalization Committee-Government of the Philippines (JNC-GPH), Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Joint Normalization Committee-Moro Islam Liberation Front (JNC-MILF), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) in Basilan, as well as the UNDP for their efforts in facilitating step-by-step the discussions among stakeholders.
Koshikawa said "the opening of pilot sites under ASPIRE is one more decisive step towards the goal of decommissioning and normalization" as he recognized the island region's importance to the peace and stability in the Philippines and in the region.
For over 20 years, Japan has been supportive of the Philippines' efforts to achieve peace process in Mindanao.
So far, over US$ 515 million have been spent implementing more than 100 projects under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).
"Japan remains committed to its support for the progress of the Peace Process and furthering development in Mindanao," the embassy said.