JICA continues aiding Muslim Mindanao

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=796749
• Tuesday, August 25, 2015

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 25 (PNA) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continues to pour in assistance to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), making it the biggest peace and development contributor in the region, officials said Tuesday.

On Monday, a school building worth PHP2 million was turned at the Kibleg Elementary School in Upi, Maguindanao as part of the continuing support from JICA “to peace and development in Mindanao.”

According to Akihiko Tanaka, JICA president, the building is one of the 20 Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) initiated by JICA, aimed at supporting “the ongoing peace-building process in Mindanao and help people realize the dividends of peace in their lives.”

The building houses rooms for Kindergarten and Grade One pupils of the school.

“These two-classroom buildings will be beneficial to us, especially to the natives of this place,” according to school principal Nestor de Vera.

Established in 1950s, the Kibleg Elementary School has been catering mostly to Teduray indigenous people. Teachers previously used temporary school buildings to cope with the increasing number of enrolees, especially in Nursery and Kindergarten.

"This building meets our long time problem of lack of classrooms," Marilou de Vera, 56, a teacher for 32 years.

The project aims at addressing the town’s classroom deficiency for the increasing number of pre-school enrolees in the area, and the use of temporary classrooms by the teachers.

“The schoolchildren will learn more and better because of the new classrooms, which are very conducive to learning,” Upi Mayor Ramon Piang said.

The early QIPs, which include multi-purpose halls, warehouses with solar dryer, and school buildings, have already benefited people in conflict-affected areas like Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Sarangani, Tawi-Tawi, Sultan Kudarat, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga Sibugay.

JICA is an agency of the Japanese government responsible for implementing technical cooperation, grant aid, and yen loan programs of Japan’s overseas development assistance to developing countries like the Philippines.

Tanaka, JICA chief representative in the Philippines Noriaki Niwa, together with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, MILF municipal political committee chairman Sumail Mensong, Bangsamoro Development Authority executive director Mohammad Yacob, Mayor Piang, and school principal de Vera led the turn-over ceremony.

Iqbal recognized what he described as steadfast aid and assistance provided by Japan to Muslim communities and other less developed areas of Mindanao.

"Japan has been here long before our peace agreement with the government was forged. Regardless of the outcome of the draft basic law, Japan is helping us and continue to do so without preconditions," Iqbal said in Filipino.

"Japan has been the biggest contributor of our desire to attain peace in our communities, not only through monetary aid by capacity building as well," Iqbal said, adding that Japan also sent in experts in reconstruction and rebuilding of conflict affected communities in Mindanao.

He also recognized and appreciated the efforts of other donor countries in the peace and development efforts for Muslim communities.