News FROM Philippines

JANUARY TO MARCH 2 0 1 9 JICA, Philippines sign ODA for railway extension, flood control projects

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reiterates its support to improving the quality of life of Filipinos with the signing of a 205 billion Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the extension of the North- South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase IV.

The NSCR-Ex Project with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is an extension of the ongoing JICA-funded NSCR project which runs from Malolos to Tutuban. The 51-km North extension will run from Malolos in Bulacan to Clark International Airport in Pampanga, while the 55-km South extension will run from Solis, Manila to Calamba, Laguna. The two extension lines will strengthen the Philippine mass transport network to address the rising transportation demand in Mega Manila.

Meanwhile, the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase IV with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) aims to mitigate flood damages in Metro Manila that is vulnerable to storm or typhoon-related disasters. Metro Manila is home to one-eighth of the country's population (or 12.87 million, 2015 PSA data). Its location along the coastal low-lying area poses flood risks among residents. The Pasig-Marikina River at the center of Manila also contributes largely to the city's flooding when the riverbank overflows.

“We are working closely with stakeholders in the Philippine transport system and other international development institutions like ADB to address challenges in the Philippine mass transport system, boost the country's competitiveness, and distribute growth to nearby areas outside Metro Manila,” said JICA Southeast Asia and the Pacific Department Director General Shigenori Ogawa. “Also, we continue to support the vulnerable sector through our flood control project in the Pasig-Marikina River to help build the Philippines' disaster resilience, and sustain economic growth.” 

IN THIS ISSUE

Hope for – P. 2

Scientists from Philippines, Japan study coastal ecosystems in Panay – P. 3

JICA scholars in ASEAN meet in Manila JICA Southeast Asia and the Pacific Department Director General Shigenori Ogawa (right) and Department of Finance Secretary – P. 4 Carlos Dominguez during the signing ceremony last January P A G E 2

"The project can be viewed as a model of public-private partnership (PPP) where public institutions like the DBP and the LGU and a private company like Maynilad work together to finance and implement a project with long-term impact to sustainable economic development.” - YOSHIO WADA , JICA CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE JICA-assisted wastewater treatment facility in Parañaque inaugurated JICA lauded the completion of the wastewater The facility can treat an average of 76 million liters of treatment facility of the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. wastewater daily. It is also the first large-scale (MWSI) in Parañaque City, saying it will help address Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR)-compliant water pollution in Manila Bay's tributaries, and help wastewater treatment facility in the country—a improve Metro Manila's sewage system. standard mandated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)'s Water Quality The Parañaque Water Reclamation Facility, built via Guidelines and General Effluent Standards. JICA's Environmental Development Project (EDP) with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) JICA's EDP scheme extends financial assistance to amounting to 1.7 billion pesos, aims to address impact public and private sectors for projects that contribute to of wastewater treatment to public health, water improving and preserving the environment.  resources, and tourism. Hope for Marawi

The Government of Japan through JICA held the groundbreaking ceremony of the Marawi Transcentral Roads Rehabilitation Project under the Reconstruction and Development Plan for Greater Marawi as support to the rebuilding of conflict-affected Marawi City in Mindanao. The project aims to rehabilitate or upgrade transcentral roads including drainage structures, slope protection, and other pertinent structures in selected portions of the city.

Said project is a component of JICA's 2-billion yen Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Marawi rehabilitation and reconstruction and is expected to be completed by April 2020. Photo shows Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary (4th from left), Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda and JICA Chief Representative Yoshio Wada (7th & 8th from left respectively) during the Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Provincial Capitol of Marawi City.

Also in photo are Task Force Bangon Marawi and Chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary , DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and Muslim Concerns Secretary Abdullah Mama-o and Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr.  P A G E 3 Scientists from Philippines, Japan study ecosystems in Panay Island to preserve env’t

Blue carbon and climate change are terms that perhaps many do not fully understand. Carbon is found in all living animals and plants but once emitted can result to changes in climate patterns. Blue carbon, in particular, is carbon absorbed by coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes.

To better understand this environmental phenomena, JICA is currently providing assistance to a five-year research project which started in 2017 called Comprehensive Assessment and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Their Services in the Coral Triangle (BlueCARES). The project is the first trilateral initiative under JICA’s Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) involving universities, research centers, and government agencies in Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Marine biologists, engineers, and social scientists from these institutions are conducting survey activities that involve mapping and estimating the carbon content of mangroves and seagrass beds in areas covered by the project to aid policy makers in conserving this ecosystem.

With their limited background on coastal ecosystems, two JICA staff joined a team of BlueCARES scientists from the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in their survey activities in Batan Bay and Bakhawan Ecopark in Panay Island. The bay offers a serene view of the Sibuyan Sea in the Visayas and rich marine sanctuaries, while Bakhawan Park is a popular tourist destination with its planted or rehabilitated mangroves.

Scientists from UTokyo and UP collected water and soil sample in Batan Bay and Bakhawan Park. This will help the project team in analyzing the chemical composition of the samples such as their source and carbon content.

“I never imagined that getting water samples in the bay requires a number of steps such as plotting the area where the water will be collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS), measuring the depth of the water, rinsing different sizes of water containers prior to collecting the samples of either surface or bottom water. The process does not end here but water samples are processed and analyzed for further study in the laboratory in Japan and in the Philippines.” - FLERY CHAN, Chief, JICA Environmental and Social Development Section

Samples brought to Japan are further tested for isotope analysis as UP does not have the equipment and capability to do this analysis. The analysis involves determining stable isotopes in dissolved inorganic carbon and in the hydrogen and oxygen elements in water that are important to establish the sources of carbon and water molecules in the collected samples.

“In Bakhawan Ecopark, I witnessed the measurement of soil respiration or carbon dioxide flux in the soil,” related Christian Vic Perez, JICA Program Officer. “This involves a tedious process of checking an instrument called dynamic chamber meter every 30 minutes until noontime while the tide is still low. Simultaneously, external factors such as sunlight, moisture, soil/atmospheric temperature, and solar radiation were also monitored,” added Perez.

Said joint surveys will form part of the comprehensive mapping of the blue carbon ecosystem that can guide policy-making in promoting the resilience of the country’s coastal ecosystem to help reduce hazards in the environment like natural disasters and mitigate impact of climate change. Succeeding survey activities are expected in other project sites such as Busuanga and Coron Islands, Bolinao, and Boracay Island in the Philippines.

With the rising concern on climate change, it’s therefore a winnable strategy to combine expertise and public- private collaboration to conserve the earth’s vitally important natural ecosystems. 

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JICA has trained more than 170, 000 people from JICA scholars in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)- member countries. Recently, former participants of ASEAN meet in Manila JICA training programs met in Manila for the ASEAN-Japan Friendship Association for the 21st Century’s (AJAFA-21) Executive Council Meeting.

“AJAFA plays an important role in building bridges between Japan and ASEAN-member countries. It has become not just an association of returned JICA scholars and trainees, but a platform for networking and mutual understanding,” said JICA Chief Representative Yoshio Wada.

In the Philippines, the JICA Alumni Association of the Philippines or JAAP represented the Filipino scholars in the meeting. 

Young Filipino scholars take cue from Japan's work ethic, governance system

Young Filipino scholars from and experiences in Japan, I wish to I'd be able to share this experience several government agencies in the become more effective in in my department and contribute to Philippines are taking cue from the implementing mandates and providing an environment where Japanese work ethic and policies of my agency upon my citizens can make better choices governance system. return to the Philippines. Focusing and are able to realize their full my study on the Dap-ay system of potential as nation-builders," he The scholars – Mae Richelle governance that entails collective said. Belmes, Rafael Guerrero, and democracy—empowering people Genevieve Gamueta – were among towards collective action and Another JDS scholar, Genevieve the recipients of the Japanese maximizing every human potential Gamueta, who studies public policy Grant Aid for Human Resource for the common welfare, I became at Japan's National Graduate Development Scholarship or JDS more judicious in utilizing various Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) meant to support the Philippines' social dynamics to manage election shared that she will apply her human resource development and ensure electoral security.“ course in developing a barangay efforts towards nation building. financial management system for Meanwhile, Guerrero, 25, who is Davao. "Seeing Japan makes me The three scholars, from the taking up the same course in ICU, aspire for bigger things for the Commission on Elections added that his study experience in Philippines. I'd like to contribute to (Comelec), Department of Budget Japan is helping him develop his introducing innovations I saw in and Management (DBM), and City leadership skills and understand Japan when it comes to revenue Government of Davao, respectively, better political and international collection.” said their scholarship gave them issues. "Japan places importance opportunities to learn from the on planning and designs their Since the launch of the JDS in the Japanese work ethic and attention programs with citizens as Philippines in 1999, more than 300 to detail in designing and customers in mind. I hope that Filipinos have received the implementing programs for their when I go back to the Philippines, scholarship.  citizens.

Belmes, 36, pursuing her master's in public administration in International Christian University (ICU), said, "The scholarship brought me great opportunities that widened my perspective and critical understanding on social issues and Belmes (second from left), Guerrero (second from right), and their fellow JDS scholars at public policies. With my learnings International Christian University in Japan P A G E 5 Japanese professors offer lessons on automated driving, smart city dev't

presented his study "Smart City in Japan (New Community Renovation in Declining Population)" that tackled how Japan is developing so-called smart or compact cities where facilities are concentrated to address needs of the nation's greying population.

The study showed how Japan is optimizing its Professor Hagiwara discussing his study at JICA Philippines resources by restructuring its transport system, making it more accessible to residents, as well as increasing access to daily life needs, including medical and Two Japanese professors visited the Philippines commercial needs. recently to share their studies on automated driving and smart city development with Filipinos looking to He cited the case of Toyama City in Japan where study in Japan and explore new solutions to the residential spots are along transport routes and country’s development challenges. Hachinohe City where inter-municipal cooperation community bus services are given to those living in the Professor Toru Hagiwara of Hokkaido University peripheries. This way, residents can also easily access presented his study "Self-driving Vehicles on the railways, schools, and hospitals. Highway" specifically on level 2 automated driving that could work in the Philippines. Level 2 automation The knowledge sharing is part of JICA’s efforts to build refers to a system assisting a human driver in steering, the capacity of young Filipinos through its Japanese speeding up, or slowing down. The study experiment Grant Aid for Human Resource Development was done in Hokkaido where road conditions are harsh Scholarship (JDS).  due to snowy or icy road surface. Be part of JICA conversations!

“This kind of automation could apply to the Philippines Like our Facebook page: facebook.com/jicaphilippines because system-assisted automated driving can help reduce driver distraction, lessen traffic congestion by shorter head distance and increased expressway travel speeds, and enable people with disabilities more access to open roads," Hagiwara said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Shunsuke Kimura of Meiji University Japanese company shares new TB diagnosis technology with Philippines With the Philippines ranking high among the tuberculosis (TB)-burden countries in the Asia Pacific, Japanese company Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd is sharing its advanced technology on TB diagnosis with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

The technology called TB-LAMP or Loop Mediated Isothermal Application machine is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a rapid and robust test to diagnose TB in peripheral health centers. It requires minimal laboratory infrastructure and has been evaluated as an alternative to sputum smear microscopy, still the most widespread test in use in resource-limited settings. Through the TB-LAMP’s easy and rapid diagnosis, identified TB patients can immediately be transferred to a hospital specializing in TB treatment, which eventually decreases risk of secondary infection.

The initiative, in partnership with Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd, is part of the JICA Collaboration with Private Sector that utilizes Japanese technology and innovation to help address development issues, including health. The TB LAMP technology has been pilot-tested in three health centers in Laguna, Las Piñas City, and Antipolo City. The TB LAMP will also be distributed in TB high-risk areas identified by the DOH, namely Province of Romblon, San Lazaro Hospital, and Commonwealth Health Center, Quezon City.  P A G E 6

PHOTO OF THE YEAR

JICA Philippines staff go out in the field and meet stakeholders as part of JICA’s engagement and implementation activities for its development cooperation projects. In 2018, the staff shared their experiences with the rest of the JICA community through their own lens.

The Staff Photo of the Year goes to Eri Asada-Solleza for her photo captioned “Coffee harvest season is coming!” for the Technical Cooperation for Grassroots Project (TCGP) Capacity Development for the quality improvement of coffee in Tublay, Benguet. Under the TCGP, Japanese NGO WE21 provided coffee quality control trainers’ training to farmer organizations in Tublay. 

FINALISTS

A local fisherfolk from Barangay Amandayehan looking on at the submersible fish cages used for milkfish culture. The submersible fish cages were provided by JICA as part of the Quick Impact Projects under the Typhoon Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery assistance. Photo by Patrick San Juan

A woman harvesting rice from Barangay Nabalawag. Farmers received training on upland rice farming techniques under the JICA-Philippine Rice Research Institute Upland Rice-Based Farming Technology Transfer Program for the Bangsamoro. Photo by Teresa Mendoza

About JICA JICA Philippines Office The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the executing agency of 40F Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), which handles technical Telephone: +632 889-7119 cooperation, ODA loans and investment, and grant aid, as well as cooperation Facsimile: +632 889-6850 volunteers and disaster relief programs. JICA is the world’s largest bilateral aid Website: https://www.jica.go.jp/philippine/english/ agency with its volume of cooperation amounting to about USD 19.57 billion for JFY Editorial Team: Jennifer Erice. Lara Javier, 2017 and a worldwide network of about 100 overseas offices including the Maffy Carandang, Philippines. Amanda Bacani 6