Japan vows further support to PH infra thrust

Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa assured their country’s continued support to the Philippines’ infrastructure thrust.

The assurance of support to the current administration’s “Build, Better, More” push was given during his discussion with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

 “Hearing about all exciting new plans, I truly value the kind visit and grateful for the time spent despite busy schedule of the Japanese Ambassador,” Bonoan said.

Present during the face-to-face meeting were DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Economic Minister Masahiro Nakata and Second Secretary Tomohiro Matsubara of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines; Senior Representatives Kenji Kuronuma, Masanari Yanagiuchi, and Yo Ebisawa of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Office; and Project Directors Ramon Arriola III and Benjamin Bautista of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Clusters. Meanwhile, JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Takema Sakamoto participated virtually.

According to DPWH, 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.

 Sadain said that the Japanese government, through JICA, currently supports 13 DPWH big-ticket infrastructure projects, which include the following:

• widening of 23-kilometer Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Project Phase 3 in Bulacan;
• improvement and maintenance of about 1,184-kilometer of arterial national roads under Road Upgrading and Preservation Project (RUPP);
• 30-kilometer Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project from the connection of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Balingcanaway, Tarlac City and ends at the Daang Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan City;
• Construction of a four-lane – 45.5-kilometer Davao City Bypass construction project;

Further, the DPWH noted that that the Islamic City of Marawi has benefited from a ¥2 billion (around P970 Million) donation/grant for the design and build of the 18.97-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1.

Moreover, JICA is also funding the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) involving the development, construction, and improvement of around 174.50-kilometer access roads connecting Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other regions in Mindanao including the 18.78-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3.

 Furthermore, Japan vowed to support the construction of Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project, which is currently under detailed engineering design stage.

To protect flood-prone areas, JICA also financed the completed four sub-projects under the flood risk management Project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River and Imus River. Meanwhile, the channel improvement works for Middle Marikina River, flood risk management project for Cagayan De Oro River, and Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project are still on-going.

Japan also provided financial aid for the construction of interchanges on major intersection in Quezon City by improving the durability and safety of Guadalupe and Lambingan Bridges against large scale earthquake.

Technical assistance has also improved DPWH capacity in preparing feasibility studies and detailed engineering design of project proposals submitted for NEDA Board approval.

 Pipeline projects with feasibility studies completed and on-going under JICA grant include the Parañaque Spillway/Tunnel project; Dalton Pass East alignment road project (East Dalton Bypass Project); Central Mindanao Highway project (Cagayan De Oro-Malaybalay Section); and Davao City flood control and drainage project.

Sadain said that 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 project also promotes transfer of Japanese technology and expertise.

For the final quarter of the year, a workshop on construction and operation and maintenance of road tunnel will be held aimed at providing a strong foundation for joint venture enterprises between Japanese and Philippine businesses.

Photos from Department of Public Works and Highways

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