Japan pledges support to 18 infra projects

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Cooperation between the governments of the Philippines and Japan will continue to fast-track the completion of 18 major infrastructure projects in the pipeline, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa recently paid a courtesy visit to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan and assured the Japanese government’s continued support to the Philippine government’s infrastructure push to Build Better More under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

The two officials discussed about coordinating bilaterally and pushing forward the fruition of more infrastructure projects.

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Japan has been, and continues to be, the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) in the Philippines, with grants, loans and technical assistance provided all over the country since 1966.

Currently, the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), supports 13 DPWH big-ticket infrastructure projects, including the widening of the 23-kilometer Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Project Phase 3, 1,184-km arterial national roads under the Road Upgrading and Preservation Project, 30-km Central Luzon Link Expressway and the 45.5-km Davao City Bypass Construction Project.

In addition, DPWH said the Islamic City of Marawi has benefited from a P970-million grant to design and build the 19-km Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1, under the Programme for the Support to Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City.

Japan has also committed to support the construction of the P76.4-billion Cebu-Mactan fourth bridge and coastal road project, which is now under the detailed engineering design stage.

The government of Japan also extended financing support for the construction of interchanges on major intersections in Quezon City under the Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project Phase VI, and the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project to strengthen the resiliency of the transport network in Metro Manila by improving the durability and safety of Guadalupe and Lambingan bridges against large scale earthquake.

Technical assistance has also improved the DPWH’s capacity in preparing feasibility studies and detailed engineering design of project proposals submitted for National Economic and Development Authority Board approval.

Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary, said technical cooperation is another component of Japanese ODA to the Philippines which contributed to the acquisition of technical skills through short- and long-term training for the improvement of human resources. Japan ODA projects also promote transfer of Japanese technology and expertise.

Feasibility studies on five projects in the pipeline were completed under JICA grants. These projects include the Parañaque Spillway/Tunnel, Dalton Pass East Alignment Road, Central Mindanao Highway and the Davao City Flood Control and Drainage Project.

The proposal to conduct feasibility studies for Liloan Bridge and Butuan Bridge which comprise Phase II of the Urgent Bridges Construction Program for Rural Development were also submitted for JICA’s consideration for civil works financing, DPWH said.

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