By Robina Asido

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon expressed the government's commitment to fast track Japanese funded projects as he joined the meeting with the members of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Parliamentary League in Pasay City on Wednesday.

"We, in particular, in the Department of Transportation, we commit that we will make these projects faster. We will cooperate continuously with JICA and the other Japanese agencies to make sure that these projects are completed quickly and are completed with the utmost quality that Japan is very well known for," Dizon said in his opening remark.

Aside from Dizon, the meeting was also attended by Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Undersecretary Joseph Capuno

Budget and Management Undersecretary Rolando Toledo, Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil Sadain and Philippine Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.

Dizon, who led Philippine government officials during the meeting, expressed how fortunate the Philippines "to have the government of Japan and JICA as (its) partner."

"I have been witness to the enormous and substantial partnership of the government of Japan and the government of the Philippines, specifically JICA, that will in the next few years really change our infrastructure landscape in the Philippines," he said.

"So on behalf of the entire government of President (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.) and of the colleagues I have here from the various economic agencies, we cannot thank you enough for the assistance and the partnership that the government of Japan and JICA have provided to the Philippines over the years," he added.

Dizon also noted that the "assistance from JICA and the Japanese government is not only about hard infrastructure" but "life-changing for the Philippines."

"The projects that you have supported and continue to support will change the lives of Filipinos for generations to come," he said.

"For our department, the Department of Transportation, the North-South Commuter Rail, Subway, the Metro Manila subway, the assistance you have given to our Philippine Coast Guard, and many other projects across multiple agencies of our government will really spell the difference between a very difficult life that our Filipinos have to go through every day at present to a better life in the future," he stressed.

On the other hand, Obuchi Yuko, chairperson, member of the House of Representatives and the Liberal Democratic Party who led the JICA Parliamentary League expressed belief that "as the international community faces a historical turning point, the Philippines, as a country that shares values and principles with Japan, is becoming more and more important to Japan."

"On that note, for a long time as a strategic partner, we have built cross-cooperative relations in various fields, and our long-standing (Official Development Assistance) ODA project serves as a key component of those relationships," she said.

During their visit, Obuchi and the other members of the JICA Parliamentary League will visit different ODA projects sites including the Metro Manila Subway Station in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City and Manila Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Vehicle Depot in Pasay City.

"Through this visit, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing ODA project here, and as a parliamentarian lead, we aim to support the smooth progress and operation of each project in the Philippines," she said.

The members of the JICA Parliamentary League will also attend the the reception for the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador in Makati City and conduct an inspection at nonprofit organization (NPO) “ACTION,” activities in local communities in Navotas City.

NPO "ACTION" which supports children in the Philippines is where Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) members are currently dispatched.

The members of JICA Parliamentary League arrived on Wednesday for a 3-day visit. Robina Asido/DMS