Japan thanks Philippines for help

source: abs-cbn

Assures Philippines of continued assistance despite tsunami

MANILA - President Aquino inaugurated the upgraded Agno River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning System that was funded by the Japanese government under its Grant Aid project through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).



The grant aid amounts to 376 million yen or approximately 154 million pesos.

President Aquino thanked the Japanese government, represented by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura, for extending its assistance in the completion of the warning system that would help save lives and property, particularly in Pangasinan, Tarlac and Benguet.

Aquino said the Japanese people are “brother to us Filipinos.”

Ambassador Katsura thanked the Philippines for its messages of sympathies to Japan when the March 11 tsunami hit, and for the relief goods the Philippines has donated.

“Let me express my deep appreciation for the relief goods from the Philippine government, which arrived in Japan on March 25 to alleviate the difficulties of the affected people. The Government and people of Japan, with the assistance being extended by the international community including the Philippines, will make all-out efforts to overcome the enormous challenges brought about by this earthquake and tsunami,” Katsura said in his speech.

Katsura assured the Philippines that despite the difficulties Japan is facing now, Japan would continue to extended assistance to the Philippines through various forms of Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“Even under the difficult circumstances where Japan is placed right now, our commitment to extend assistance to the Philippines remains unchanged, and we intend to continue to help improve the living environment of the Filipino people as much as possible,” Katsura said.

source: abs-cbn