Japan to Provide Grants to Philippines for Maritime Safety

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo signed agreements on two Japanese grant-aid projects Tuesday. The grant, worth $12.5m U in total, will help the Philippines in disaster prevention and management as well as maritime safety and security. According to the agreements, Japan will extend $7.2m for the improvement of flood forcasting and warning system in the Pampanga and Agno River Basins in the Philippines. The grant is expected to substantially improve information accuracy and provide technical support for improving the system operation for flood forecasting and disaster prevention.

The second project, Enhancement of Communications System for Maritime Safety and Security, $5.3m will help supply and install communications equipment at Philippine Guard (PCG) sites to improve and enhance the PCG's capacity for search and rescue as well as counter- terrorism. Source: Xinhua