The Japanese government will sign this Monday the contracts that will implement eight new projects in Mindanao worth approximately P33 million that would be beneficial to peace and development in the conflict areas in Southern Philippines.

“This will help create a positive atmosphere in the peace talks in Mindanao,” Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura told reporters, adding that the new projects would all come in the form of Japanese grants in aid.

Katsura will sign eight-grant contracts for various social development projects in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. These projects are the fourth batch of assistance under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

“The J-BIRD aims to help create a peaceful atmosphere for the local people,” Katsura said.

J-BIRD was launched in 2006 to pursue Japan’s commitment to the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Since the launching, Japan has already supported 32 grassroots projects in the total amount of US$2.1 million or about P95-million.

The new package of assistance, amounting to US$732,447 or about P33 million, will form part of Japan’s commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao. The package includes the construction of three school buildings, two training centers, a women’s crisis center, a potable water supply system, and a rural health unit.

“It is good for us to contribute,” Katsura said, adding that “reconstruction and development are among the two pillars” of Japan’s assistance under the J-BIRD.

Japan participates in the peace talks as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The Japanese government has sent two experts to Mindanao as part of its commitment as a member of the IMT, which is headquartered in Cotabato City.

Tomonori Kikuchi, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, and Yusuke Mori, Second Secretary of the Embassy (on loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), are currently in Mindanao as development experts to the IMT for the GRP-MILF Peace Process.

Both Japanese experts will focus on socio-economic development, including the assessment of the needs for the reconstruction and development, the monitor of development projects in the former conflict-affected areas, and the formulation of a comprehensive development plan.

Aside from Japan, other members of the IMT include Malaysia, Brunei, and Libya.

As a member of the ICG, Japan gives advice to the parties concerned on the Mindanao peace process and participates in the peace talks as observers.

Other ICG members include the United Kingdom, Turkey, and four NGOs.

Japan has close bilateral ties with ASEAN countries. It is the Philippines’ second largest trading partner as well as the second largest foreign investor in the Philippines. It also remains the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) for the Philippines.