DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Inday Sara Duterte receives Japan Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, at Davao City Hall, Friday afternoon, November 19.
Attendees of the meeting were Davao City Administrator, Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Second Secretary for Economic Section of the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Matsubara Tomohiro, and Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Azukizawa Eigo.
Highlighted during the meeting is the Capacity Building Project for Davao City or the IM4Davao (Infrastructure Modernization for Davao), its components on Flood Control and the Sewerage and Septage Masterplan.
The delegation visited the city's sanitary landfill prior to the meeting and noted the importance of having a Waste to Energy (WTE) facility in the city.
Mayor Sara Duterte expressed her gratitude for the technical support accorded by the Japanese Government for the implementation of the WTE project of Davao City.
The Smart JAMP (Smart City Japan ASEAN Mutual Partnership) was also mentioned during the meeting. Through the Smart JAMP, the Japanese Government will share its technical expertise particularly in the field of Traffic Management for Davao City.
The meeting also highlighted the conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon to Dr. Ines Yamanuochi Mallari. Dr. Mallari is a Dabawenya and a third-generation Japanese descendant. She is the school president of Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku. Dr. Mallari's recognition by the Government of Japan is a result of her contribution to promoting Philippines-Japan mutual understanding through academic exchange and related activities.
Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said he was grateful for the assistance extended by the local government in the implementation of the Davao Bypass project through visa assistance, road right of way conferences, and vaccination of project workers.
Furthermore, the Ambassador shared that Japan assisted the Philippines in its pandemic response by donating Anti Covid-19 vaccines, cold chain/storage solutions, and livelihood financial assistance.
Earlier the day, the Japanese delegation visited agriculture companies of mango, pineapple, and coconut for activated carbon for possible business opportunities. (OSD)
