True to its commitment to help the Philippines towards economic progress, Japanese Ambassador to Manila, Makoto Katsura, recently said in his speech during the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan at Mt. Samat, Bataan, that the Japanese government will still continue to provide developmental assistance to the country, particularly in Mindanao, amid the disorder brought about by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake March 11.
Believing that peace and prosperity starts with a united nation, Katsura announced that just last March 25 he signed the nine grant contracts under the Japan-Bangsamoro initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) that is committed to bring peace between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
According to the Embassy of Japan, the fifth batch of assistance under the J-BIRD funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots-Human Security Projects includes “the construction of five school buildings, two training centers, a floating school, and a post harvest facility.” The package amounts to $838, 606.
Katsura said in a report from Philstar.com that Japan welcomes the “recent resumption of the official peace negotiations between the government of the Philippines and the MILF,” adding that the re-commencement of the peace talks paved way for Japan to dispatch two socio-economic experts to the International Monitoring Team in the conflicted areas of Mindanao.
Ever since Japan decided to reconcile with the Philippines for the damage brought about by the Japanese Military during World War II, Katsura said in a report from a local newspaper last October 2010 that the “noble spirit of reconciliation and the sense of fairness on the part of the Filipino people” has prompted Japan to provide assistance and strengthen its alliance with the Philippines.
The Japanese ambassador also thanked the Filipinos for sending their sympathies and condolences to the victims of the recent victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan last month. Three more deaths were unfortunately added to the death toll following a 7.0 magnitude aftershock last April 7.
The Philippines pledged its support to Japan by sending relief goods and humanitarian assistance to the disaster-stricken nation. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told Kyodo News last March 24 that President Aquino believes that this is the time to express the country’s solidarity to Japan, “ which have been so generous in our times of crises and disasters.”
Japan was committed to show its remorse over what transpired during WWII and made sure that their heartfelt apologies were felt by the Filipino people. A model of generosity despite its struggle over what had been lost, Japan still managed to gain something along the way—a strengthened unity and peace with other nations it was once at war with.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ April 15-21, 2011 Sec A pg.1)
Back To Top