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Archives
June 16-30, 2000
Japan-assisted projects in RP: an overview
by Rita T. dela Cruz
"It is high time for our two countries
to further enhance relations in preparation for the
21st century. Agriculture and fisheries are the fields
we muts explore in terms of cooperation."
Thus declared Minister Tsukasa Kawada
o the Embassy of Japan, guest speaker during the second
National Agriculture and Fisheries Council (NAFC) lecture
series at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).
Although one of the world's most industrialized
countries, Japan has not fully developed its agriculture
and fishery sector. It is only recently that Japan focused
its attention to the development of agriculture - specifically
rice production. Agrarian reform has likewise boosted
production. "However, this is still insufficient
to feed a population of 1.2 billion," Minister
Kawada said. Japan, therefore, has turned to importing
agricultural and fishery products from the Philippines.
In support of the development of the Philippines'
agriculture and fisheries sector, Japan has been extending
assistance through the Overseas Development Assistance
or ODA in the from of grant aid, technical cooperation,
and loan aid. According to Minister Kawada, the Philippines
is one of the leading beneficiaries of ODA, accounting
for a total of $319 milion.
Japan's High-Level Economic Cooperation
Mission authored a guideline on selecting future ODA
projects and programs. It prioritizes economic structure
for sustainable growth; lesser disparities in terms
of poverty and regional inequalities; disaster management
and environment conservation; human resources development,
and institution building.
Grant Aid
Japan has extended grant aids for the construction o
thre research buildings, namely the BSWM, teh Food Development
Center for the NFA in Taguig, and the National Pesticide
Analytical Laboratory of the Bureau of Plant Industry.
In 1994, BAR received a PhP30-million grant for the
sustainable Agriculture Systems Project.
The Philippines will receive PhP 610 million
worth of equipment for the Increased Food Production
Project in aid of increasing food production.
Technical Cooperation
This form of assistance is tapped for trainings, expert
visits and the provision of equipment and materials.
In addition, Japan has introduced the Project-type Technical
Cooperation which is used in an R&D project of the
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
Loan Aid
To date, Japan has provided this kind of assistance
to the Philippines for the implementation of the Central
Luzon Irrigation Project. The Bohol Irrigation Project
in Visayas and the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project
in Mindanao. Also, loan aids have been given to agrarian
and fisheries project: Agrarian Reform Infrastructure
Support Project, and construction of fishing ports in
General Santos and Davao.
All these are an affirmation of the strengthening
bilateral relations of the two countries. As Minister
Kawada has said, "our relations are becoming stronger
in (the past) years." 
June 16-30 2000 Articles: ::
New
staffing pattern ok'd; DBM next step
::
IDG-in
support of NaRDSAF
::
Improve
HRD system, strengthen RDE linkage - SSAC
::
Japan-assisted projects in RP: an overview
::
BAR,
PIDS launch seminar series
::
BAR
units hold midyear evaluation, planning workshop
::
Relocation
of EVIARC - reg 8 proposed
::: More June 2000 articles :::
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