Japanese Government Assists RP Infra Development

The Government of Japan will consider assistance to the Philippines on water resources management particularly the construction of dams, sabo technology, retarding basin and other flood control structures including sharing of expertise and technologies.

Visiting Japanese Minister Akihiro Ohta of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is open to the proposal of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson in providing cooperation program on flood mitigation and management.

Earlier, Secretary Singson has expressed its gratitude to Japanese government for the full support to the country’s infrastructure development particularly through a number of Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided to improve and modernize the Philippines’ infrastructure.

Secretary Singson also proposed for possible inclusion of training and capacity building program assistance on water resources and flood management for selected young civil engineers joining DPWH in its recruitment program which the Japanese Minister believes is a good idea and in need of further discussion.

Singson said that the DPWH has developed a flood control master plan for Metro Manila to include the structural measures for the Pasig-Marikina River Basin and adjacent areas.  The design of a proposed dam project to be constructed in the upstream portion of Upper Marikina River in Rodriguez, Rizal is now being finalized by the DPWH.

Minister Ohta expressed his admiration for Secretary Singson and the Aquino administration for coming up with a long term vision for flood mitigation and roadmap for transport infrastructure development that will address worsening traffic in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

The Government of Japan thru Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided invaluable assistance in the development of transport roadmap with the goal of modernizing transport facilities.   

In his visit in Manila, the Japanese Minister with his party had a brief tour of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project which is now on its third phase of implementation.  The project is financed through a loan granted to the Philippines by JICA.   

Implemented by the DPWH, over a million people will directly benefit from the mitigating structural measures for the Pasig-Marikina River Basin and adjacent areas.

Later, Singson and Ohta witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) headed by its President and Chief Executive Officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) headed by its President and Chief Executive Officer Takuma Hatano for the Clark Green City Project in Clarkfield, Pampanga particularly in the establishment of project implementation framework  to enable the project commercially and economically viable for private business and investors and attract project financing.