MAMUMUHUNAN ang Japanese government sa Pilipinas ng P1.5 trillion halaga ng infrastructure projects sa pamamagitan ng official development assistance (ODA).
Nakatuon ito na pondohan ang transport infrastructure programs.
Sinabi Department of Transportation (DOtr) Secretary Jaime Bautista na kabilang sa transport development programs ay ang North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), LRT-1 Cavite Extension, LRT-2 East Extension at MRT-3 rehabilitation.
Personal naman na nagpasalamat si Bautista sa Japanese government, sa mga kinatawan mula Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) na sa kanyang pagsasalarawan ay malaking tulong para sa PIlipinas na makamit na mapaunlad ang transport sector.
“We are thus sincerely grateful for your help to improve the mass transport system in our country,” ang sinabi ni Bautista kay JICA Chief Representative to the Philippines Takema Sakamoto sa second DOTR-J ICA coordination meeting.
“JICA’s assistance to the agency’s transport infrastructure programs will catalyze economic growth for the country through inclusive mobility and connectivity,” aniya pa rin.
Sa kabilang dako, ang halaga ng tulong ng Japan sa Pilipinas ang naglagay dito bilang “top beneficiary” ng ODA.
Sa nasabing pulong, tinalakay ni Bautista ang nagpapatuloy na infrastructure projects sa ‘aviation, railway, maritime, at road sectors.’
“In the aviation and maritime sectors, JICA is extending funding assistance for the new CNS/ATM Systems Development Project, new Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project, and the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phases 1 and 2,” ayon kay Bautista.
“The coordination meeting will greatly help the Philippines position itself as a dynamic investment hub and an emerging gateway country to Asia,” dagdag na wika nito.
Nangako naman si Sakamoto na patuloy nitong tutulungan ang Pilipinas pagdating sa infrastructure development “to improve mobility and accessibility” sa buong bansa. Kris Jose
