Japan ODA now keen on Mindanao, disaster recovery, maritime security

Disaster recovery, the Philippine Coast Guard and Mindanao are the focus of Japan's assistance to the Philippines, under the new official development assistance (ODA) charter, an embassy official said Wednesday.

 

"According to the new charter, we'd like to focus on disaster issues, maritime security, and Mindanao," Hiroyuki Uchida, Embassy of Japan Economic Section head, told reporters.

 

In March last year, foreign affairs minister Fumio Kishida, decided to review and revise the ODA Charter, Uchida said. The charter was last revised in 2003.

 

The new charter or the Development Cooperation Charter was issued last month.

 

Key components of the Development Cooperation Charter are: contributing to peace and prosperity through cooperation for non-military purposes; promoting human security; and cooperation aimed at self-reliant development through assistance for self-help efforts as well as dialogue and collaboration based on Japan's experience and expertise.

 

Japan's support for Mindanao is targetted on the construction of school and classrooms, water stations, health center and two hospitals, core shelters for typhoon victims, and agricultural machinery.

 

The maritime security component includes assistance to upgrade the fleet of Philippine Coast Guard.

 

Japan has committed a $500-million stand-by loan for disaster recovery. — ELR, GMA News