Japan helps Bangsamoro in water, COVID-19 response

MANILA, Philippines — The Japanese government has provided support in improving water sources and COVID response in the Bangsamoro region.

Japan recently turned over a level II ground source electric water pump system in Tenorio in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. The project also includes a treatment facility and four tap-stands.

The water infrastructure will benefit approximately 70 households with cross-composites of mostly indigenous families, retired military staff and civilians.

This is the last of the 11 water sub-projects committed in Mindanao, culminating the three-year partnership between Japan and the International Labor Organization.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said the project would not only provide potable water but also a decent source of income during the pandemic.

“We are determined to keep our active contributions going until we see a very peaceful and progressive region that the Bangsamoro people deserve,” he said.

The initiative is under the ILO-Japan Water and Sanitation Project signed in 2019.

The project consists of 11 water systems estimated to benefit almost 12,000 households in remote areas of Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Japan and the International Organization for Migration Philippines also partnered to strengthen the region’s preparedness and response capacity for effective COVID prevention and control.

The project aims to boost Bangsamoro’s COVID response through the provision of health and emergency preparedness interventions and vehicles and equipment in cooperation with the local government.

The region received multi-purpose GeneExpert machines for detecting COVID and other viruses, solar refrigerators for transporting vaccines, and sea ambulances for the safe and efficient transport of emergency patients, vaccines, and RT-PCR specimens in the region.