Japan still bullish on peace in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) remains optimistic about the prospects for peace in Mindanao in spite of the impasse in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

According to the Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MedCo), JICA, Japan’s leading funding agency, even pledged to increase its commitment to support various projects in conflict-hit areas in the South once a final peace agreement is forged with the MILF.

MedCo officials said JICA would even fund projects in areas outside of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a recent visit to Central Mindanao, JICA president Sadako Ogata met with local leaders to review the existing literacy program funded by the agency.

Ogata also met in Cotabato City with the officers of the Malaysia-led international monitoring team, which helps oversee the ceasefire between the government and MILF forces.

Ogata also met with the members of the MILF’s central committee at Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao and discussed with them the capacity-building assistance that JICA has extended to the Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA).

The BDA is tasked to coordinate and implement projects in conflict-stricken areas, including those funded by JICA.

JICA has also funded a series of organizational development training for BDA and its partners, and has extended technical assistance to different groups in Mindanao, especially those on health, poverty alleviation, environmental protection and infrastructure.