Japan officials to check infra-funded projects in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Officials from Manila and Tokyo are set to meet again this week to discuss the progress of Philippine infrastructure projects that are supported and financed by the Japanese government, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the DOF said the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation are scheduled to meet today in Hakone, Japan.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia will lead the Philippine delegation, while Hiroto Izumi is expected to head the Japanese delegation during the meeting.

The DOF said this would be the ninth meeting to be held by the joint committee since it was first convened in March 2017. The most recent meeting was held in Clark, Pampanga in June.

Dominguez said the regular meetings are part of the “fast and sure” approach adopted by the two countries to ensure the smooth and swift implementation of Japan-funded projects under the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program. 

As a result of this strategy, the finance chief said the two governments have already signed 10 loan agreements since President Duterte assumed office in June 2016.

These include the $985.3 million loan for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1, the $143.24 million funding for the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Projects, and the Y38 billion financing for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Rehabilitation Project.

Last June, Philippine and Japanese officials also finalized a $202.04 million loan agreement for the construction and improvement of roads in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas, including Marawi City.

Manila and Tokyo also signed financing agreements on the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard (Phase II), Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation, Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project, Arterial Road Bypass Project (Phase III) in Bulacan, New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project (II), and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (Phase IV).

Dominguez said several of these agreements were processed and approved in a short span of three to four months.

The DOF earlier said the two governments are also targeting to sign within the year a supplemental loan for the ongoing Davao City Bypass Construction Project, as well as loan accords for the New Mactan Bridge Construction Project in Cebu and the second phase of the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project.