Japan has ramped up relations with Manila with the grant aid of 957 million yen or P357 million in local currency to help the Philippines recover faster from calamities that visit its shores often.
The grant package is separate from the 600 million yen or P224 million official security assistance (OSA) package announced last Friday for the procurement of supplies and equipment helping Manila boost its security and defense capabilities.
The P357 million grant package recognizes the Philippines as one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the most natural disasters, and that strengthening the country’s capacity for early post-disaster recovery, such as the maintenance of heavy machinery, is an urgent issue.
In Cotabato City, Mindanao, which was damaged by Typhoon Paeng (international name Nalgae) in October 2022, the lack of heavy machinery to remove soil from roads and bridges and collapsed houses prevented rapid restoration of transportation infrastructure. As a result, the lives of local residents who could not receive food and supplies promptly were put in danger, it was noted.
Consequently, Japan, in the presence of Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., were witnesses to the exchange of notes between Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines, and Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, of the grant aid package.
The package allows for the provision of heavy machinery for disaster recovery up to 957 million yen and contribute to the country’s economic and social development by strengthening its capacity for disaster prevention and recovery through the provision of equipment, including products manufactured by Japanese companies.
