25 March 2014 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe, signed and exchanged notes on three grant aid projects in the amount of JP¥ 6.917 billion or approximately PhP 3.041 billion namely: 1) the Project for Enhancement of Coastal Communications Systems; 2) the Project for Improvement of Water Supply of the Metro Cebu Water District; and 3) Program for Rehabilitation and Recovery from Typhoon Yolanda.

The Grant Aid for the Project for Enhancement of Coastal Communications Systems worth JP¥1.152 billion (approximately PhP 507 million) will be implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This is the second phase of a project that aims to improve the communications systems of the PCG and enhance its search-and-rescue and counterterrorism capabilities.

The Grant Aid for the Improvement of Water Supply of the Metro Cebu Water District worth JP¥ 1.165 billion (approximately PhP 510 million) will be implemented by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District to provide efficient and reliable potable water supply to Metro Cebu.

The Grant Aid Program for Rehabilitation and Recovery from Typhoon Yolanda worth JP¥ 4.6 billion (approximately PhP 2.024 billion) will be implemented by various government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology- PAGASA, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and National Electrification Administration. This project will pave way for the quick rehabilitation and recovery of the areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda with the construction of disaster resilient schools, health facilities and government offices as well as provision of equipment for power distribution, airport facilities and meteorological radar, among others. END