Japanese and Philippines officials reached an agreement to sign a $202-million loan deal for the reconstruction and improvement of roads in Mindanao’s conflict area, including Marawi City.
Department of Finance (DOF) said that the agreement was signed following the conclusion of the 8th meeting of the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held at Clark, Pampanga.
The agreement aims to restore local economies, minimize poverty in the communities by linking it to trade centers in Mindanao, and improving access to the smooth flow of trade and services.
Signing the loan accord for the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP) were Dominguez on behalf of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Yasushi Tanaka on behalf of the Japanese government.
“As you know, the Japanese government is the largest donor or source of funds for our Marawi rehabilitation and they mentioned today if there is more needed, they are willing to provide the funds,” said Dominguez.
Dominguez told reporters that Japanese and Philippine officials also “committed to work towards and improvement” of a 176-kilometer road network, including 19.8 km of the Marawi Ring Road, that would connect the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to trade centers of the island region. / with reports from Bombo Dave Vincent Pasit; Edited by Bombo Sol Marquez
