PH, Japan Sign P876M To Improve Flood Forecasting and Warning System For Cagayan De Oro River

The governments of the Philippines and Japan have signed and exchanged notes on a combined total of about P876-million worth of grants intended for a flood prevention project in Cagayan de Oro and a human resource scholarship program that would benefit about 42 young Filipino government officials.

In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said the first exchange of notes signed between Ambassador Koji Haneda and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano will provide a JY 1.278 billion (approx.P608 million) for improving flood forecasting and warning system for Cagayan De Oro River Basin.

According to the embassy, the Japanese grant is expected to substantially improve information accuracy and provide technical support to the CDO operational system for flood forecasting and disaster prevention.

“This project will strengthen the ability of CDO against future risks of flash floods, mudslides and other negative impacts, thus contributing to sustainable development in the region,” the embassy added.

In January last year, Cagayan De Oro was seriously affected by massive flooding, the worst that hit the city since the devastating Typhoon Sendong in 2011.

On the second exchange of notes signed by the two officials, Japan will provide JY563 million (approx. P268 million) to cover 20 fellows in 2018 and another 22 recipients in 2019 under the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) project.

The scholarship aims to enhance the recipients’ expertise in their respective fields and to help build a pool of future Filipino leaders who will greatly contribute to the country’s overall economic development by returning to and working in the Philippines.

The embassy said the scholarship program has already produced a total of 319 JDS fellows to this date.