Philippines and Japan Sign P376-Million Grant for BARMM Infrastructure and Disaster Response

MANILA — In a significant move to bolster infrastructure and enhance emergency response capabilities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Philippines and Japan formalized a PHP376 million grant on Friday. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the aid agreement designed to support road construction and emergency response in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the notes concerning the non-project grant aid (NPGA) from Japan for BARMM were signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, coinciding with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official two-day visit to Manila. This financial cooperation, amounting to JPY957 million, is part of Japan’s commitment to assist in the development of the BARMM.

The grant is allocated for procuring construction equipment that will be instrumental in improving the road network and facilitating quick disaster response operations within the Bangsamoro region. The aim is to bolster the region’s capacity for restoring and maintaining vital transportation links such as roads, bridges, and waterways, especially in the aftermath of calamities. Additionally, the NPGA is set to play a key role in mitigating the escalating impact of climate change-induced flooding in the area.

The NPGA is designed as a grant mechanism that enables developing countries to import goods leveraging Japanese technology, catering to particular economic or social development needs.