The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) signed a 1.8 billion-Japanese yen grant agreement to further promote and stabilize the peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through urgent reconstruction of the Provincial/City Manpower and Development Center (PCMD) in Marawi City and improvement of other socioeconomic infrastructures.
The grant project Programme for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in Bangsamoro Region will also include improving the Regional Manpower Training Center in the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat and Basilan as well as improving farm-to-market roads in some barangays in conflict-affected areas.
Sites of the subprojects include Marawi City, the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat and Basilan among other conflict-affected areas.
Through the rebuilding and improvement of the techno-vocational training centers and the construction of farm-to-market-roads, “we expect more accessible economic opportunities as people are empowered through skills development and enrichment and improvement of market trade,” said Karl Chua, NEDA secretary.
The Bangsamoro Infrastructure Needs Survey, conducted from December 2018 to February 2019 by JICA, served as basis for the potential socioeconomic infrastructure projects that the GA will support.
