The Japanese government vowed to continue supporting the Philippine government’s infrastructure projects, particularly the ‘Build Better More’ program under the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued this statement following the call of Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa on DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. The two officials discussed how to push forward the completion of ongoing big-ticket infrastructure projects in the Philippines.
“Hearing about all the exciting new plans, I truly value the kind visit and grateful for the time spent despite the busy schedule of the Japanese Ambassador,” Bonoan said.
Bonoan was accompanied by Undersecretary Emil Sadain in welcoming the Japanese delegation at the DPWH central office.
Japan is the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Philippines, providing grants, loans, and technical assistance to the country since 1966.
Sadain said the Japanese government thru JICA currently supports 13 DPWH major i
nfrastructure projects including the widening of the 23-kilometer Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass in Bulacan province.JICA also provides financial assistance for the improvement and maintenance of about 1,184-kilometer of arterial national roads under Road Upgrading and Preservation Project (RUPP) and the 30-kilometer Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) connecting the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Balingcanaway, Tarlac City that ends at the Daang Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan City.
“In support of the government’s peace-building initiatives, JICA is also financing the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) involving the development, construction and improvement of about 174.50-kilometer access roads connecting Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other regions in Mindanao including another 18.78-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase ,” Bonoan said.
Japan has also committed to support the construction of the Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project.
The government of Japan likewise extended financing support for the construction of interchanges on major intersection in Quezon City under the Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project, Phase VI
(MMICP-VI) and the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project to strengthen the resiliency of transport network in Metro Manila by improving the durability and safety of the Guadalupe and Lambingan bridges against strong earthquakes.