The Japanese government has invested around P1.5 trillion worth of infrastructure projects through an official development assistance (ODA) that focus on the funding transport infrastructure programs.
Department of Transportation (DOtr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said the transport development programs include the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), LRT-1 Cavite Extension, LRT-2 East Extension and MRT-3 rehabilitation.
Bautista personally expressed gratitude to the Japanese government, through the representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for what he described as a big help for the Philippines to achieve sustainable development in the transport sector.
“We are thus sincerely grateful for your help to improve the mass transport system in our country,” Bautista told JICA Chief Representative to the Philippines Takema Sakamoto during the second DOTR-J ICA coordination meeting.
“JICA’s assistance to the agency’s transport infrastructure programs will catalyze economic growth for the country through inclusive mobility and connectivity,” he added.
Japan's amount of assistance makes the Philippined as one of its top beneficiaries in ODA.
During the meeting, Bautista discussed the ongoing infrastructure projects in the aviation, railway, maritime, and road sectors.
In the aviation and maritime sectors, Bautista said JICA is extending funding assistance for the new CNS/ATM Systems Development Project, new Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project, and the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phases 1 and 2.
“The coordination meeting will greatly help the Philippines position itself as a dynamic investment hub and an emerging gateway country to Asia,” said Bautista.
For his part, Sakamoto has committed continued assistance to the Philippines’ infrastructure development to improve mobility and accessibility throughout the country.