PEACE BY PEACE
During the course of my work as the presidential peace adviser for the past seven years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of working side by side with members of the international diplomatic corps and foreign aid development organizations.
These remarkable individuals, who come from different parts of the globe, have not only shared their exceptional knowledge, skills and experience, but have also demonstrated their heartfelt desire to help bring greater peace, development and progress to our country.
Among these individuals is Mr. Sakamoto Takema, the chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japanese government’s implementing arm for its Office Development Assistance (ODA) to nations across the world.
Mr. Sakamoto began his assignment in the Philippines in March 2022, when our country was still grappling with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. I was then serving as the chief implementer of the national government’s pandemic response efforts and vaccine czar.
Prior to his appointment in the JICA Philippines Office, he held key positions at the JICA Headquarters in Tokyo, such as director general for South Asia, director general for MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and Europe.
Mr. Sakamoto was also group leader for Transport Infrastructure and ICT, and director for Media Division. He also led JICA’s development initiatives under the concepts of "Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Growth" and "No One Left Behind."
I believe that it was this wealth of knowledge and expertise that has enabled him to lead the implementation of JICA’s high-impact, cross-cutting peace and development interventions in communities throughout the country, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Under his leadership, JICA rolled out its Skills development and Economic Empowerment in the Bangsamoro (SEE Bangsamoro), which is under the Socioeconomic Assistance for Bangsamoro Normalization Process Project.
The SEE Bangsamoro is a technical cooperation project that is focused on improving the implementation of technical vocational education training (TVET) for the decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The provision of livelihood skills is crucial for decommissioned MILF members, as these will enable them to make the successful transition from being former combatants to becoming peaceful and productive members of society.
Currently, the SEE Bangsamoro is implementing a model training 100 decommissioned MILF combatants and next-of-kin in Maguindanao are being taught vocational skills that will enable them to earn sustainable incomes.
It was also during the term of Mr. Sakamato that JICA and the Embassy of Japan spearheaded an event dubbed “Human Security towards a Resilient BARMM – Japan’s Approach in Promoting WPS Focusing on Health.”
The event highlighted the initiatives of the Japanese government to protect Filipino women’s health through effective maternal and child health service and nutrition. A side event discussed how to achieve peace and prosperity in the BARMM through women empowerment.
Under Mr. Sakamoto’s watch JICA, has conducted various development planning workshops, that led to the crafting of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (2nd BDP) 2023-2028 and the Master plan on urban infrastructure development for Cotabato City
The Japanese Government, through JICA, has poured in substantial funds to boost Infrastructure development in the Bangsamoro, which include a major road network development project.
JICA also implemented the Program for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in Bangsamoro Region, which covers vocational training centers and farm-to-market roads.
Under Mr. Sakamoto’s guidance, JICA has carried out initiatives that are helping to improve agriculture and fishery production in the Bangsamoro, which are among the region’s major growth drivers.
These projects include the Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) and the Project for Capacity Building for Financial Access in Agribusiness (Phase 2).
JICA has also supported the Philippine government’s efforts to rebuild the City of Marawi through its Program for the Support for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City and its Surrounding Areas.
By and large, JICA’s assistance in the BARMM over the past three years, with Mr. Sakamoto at the helm, has focused on enhancing project implementation, the dispatch of more Japanese experts to the region, and the conduct of trainings for Bangsamoro officials and staff in Japan.
JICA also spearheaded more socioeconomic projects such as the Program for the Urgent Improvement of Socio-Economic Infrastructure in BARMM, Socio-Economic Assistance to the Bangsamoro Normalization Process, and Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Project under the Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro.
All of these achievements were made possible through Mr. Sakamoto and his amazing JICA-Philippines, who have tirelessly but silently worked to help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people.
I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to you Mr. Sakamoto, whom we have fondly dubbed “Mr. Saka-Moro,” not only for your outstanding work but for touching the lives of our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters.
As you end your tour of duty here in the Philippines this month, may you take with you to Japan the beautiful memories you have shared with us. Thank you for being a beacon of peace, hope and inspiration for our nation. We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.)