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Japan provides 500-M yen grants to water, farm projects in Mindanao

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Kyodo News

Japan provided 500 million yen (around $4.4 million) in grants on Wednesday to water and agriculture projects in conflict-affected areas on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.The projects, to be implemented by the International Labor Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, are &quot;follow-through instruments of peace&quot; as the Philippines&#x27; predominantly Muslim region transitions into an autonomous region with more self-governing powers, said Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda.A 300-million yen ILO project aims to provide safe and reliable water supply, while a 200-million yen FAO project intends to provide vocational skills training on agriculture and fisheries, as well as literacy and entrepreneurship training.Following a 2014 peace agreement between the government and the country&#x27;s largest Muslim rebel group to end decades of insurgency in the restive region, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority was launched last month.The transition authority will eventually give way to a more powerful Bangsamoro government in 2022 with its own parliament, and more executive and economic powers.There are an estimated more than 3 million people in the Bangsamoro region, which covers nearly 1.5 million hectares in land area, mainly in central to western Mindanao.

Japan provided 500 million yen (around $4.4 million) in grants on Wednesday to water and agriculture projects in conflict-affected areas on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

Japan provided 500 million yen (around $4.4 million) in grants on Wednesday to water and agriculture projects in conflict-affected areas on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.