JICA officials in Subic to gauge funded projects

Officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other Japanese financial institutions visited this free port recently to assess the status and financial and economic potentials of projects funded by the financial institution.

The group, led by JICA chief representative Takahiro Sasaki, was welcomed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia, together with several officials from the SBMA seaport department.

Sasaki said the group’s visit to Subic was part of their two-day tour of the Philippines to understand the actual financial and economic potential of the country and also to introduce JICA’s projects and programs here.

During the meeting, Garcia and seaport officials briefed the visitors on the seaport facilities available within the free port, as well as the performance of the New Container Port Terminal.

The terminal project, along with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway that connected the two former bases of Subic and Clark, was completed with funding from JICA’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Last month, a group composed of members of the House of Councilors from Japan also visited Subic and commented that the Philippines has a huge potential and that it needs to take advantage the growing manufacturing sector.

The group added that the Philippines and Japan have a lot in common and that continuous communication and information exchange is very important for mutual development.

The group also stressed the importance of Subic port in decongesting the port of Manila. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (right) confers with JICA chief representative Takahiro Sasaki during a consultation meeting regarding the status of projects funded through JICA-ODA in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.