Japan commits $16.2M for new regionhome/News/Top Stories/Japan commits $16.2M for new regionTHE Japanese government has committed a ¥1.8-billion ($16.2 million) grant for the construction of infrastructure projects and implementation of programs in the Bangsamoro Region. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said part of the grant would be used to establish TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority centers and acquire equipment that would help sustain peace and development in the region through the acceleration of human capital development. The Philippines and Japan exchanged notes on three non-project grant aids (NPGA) worth ¥3.56 billion on the sidelines of the 7th Meeting of the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation on February 21 in Osaka, Japan. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel 5th and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda exchanged notes on a ¥1.8-billion grant for the TESDA Centers program, ¥560-million grant for the Economic and Social Development Program (Well-Drilling and Underground Water Detecting Machines) and a ¥1.2-billion grant for the Economic and Social Development Program (Train Simulator). The exchanges of notes were witnessed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd , Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, officials from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the Philippine Consulate-General in Osaka, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and other Philippine government agencies.

Source: Manila Times February 23, 2019 17:37 UTC