Japan approves PCAF-proposed 2KR project for Yolanda-hit farmers, fishers

With its enduring commitment to extend aid to Filipinos in need, the Government of Japan (GOJ) has approved the funding for the AKBay-Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy Program-Phase II for Typhoon Yolanda-Affected Areas under the Japanese Grant Assistance for the Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers (2KR Program). 

A fund support of P139,979,500.00 from Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) was approved for this project.

The project aims to contribute to the Philippine Government's recovery and rehabilitation efforts being provided to agriculture and fishing communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in Region VIII.

Through the project, the Japanese Government will provide income-generating opportunities to farming and fishing households affected by Typhoon Yolanda and help them re-establish their livelihood. 

The project was proposed and will be managed by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with DA Regional Field Office VIII.

The project will be implemented for one year targeting around 8,500 farmer and fisher families. The project will cover the first five severely damaged municipalities in four badly hit provinces in Region VIII, namely, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran and Western Samar. 

Project components include grant assistance for planting materials or fishing boats and paraphernalia worth P15,000 per farmer/fisher household with no repayment.

The DA and PCAF will also undertake capacity-building activities that will prepare farmer and fisher households to undertake the livelihood endeavors provided by the program. These include trainings on basic project management, skills enhancement, technology and record-keeping. 

Typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught in many areas in the Luzon and Visayas regions on November 8, 2013 caused multi-billion peso worth of damages, mostly in agriculture and infrastructure. 

“While the immediate needs of the affected families were provided, there is a need for continuing help through livelihood opportunities that would provide sustainable means to assist the victims towards recovery,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement.

Japan’s 2KR program has been making positive impact in the livelihood of many Filipino farmers in the past 30 years. With this newly approved project, the GOJ reaffirms their country’s commitment, as the top donor of the ODA to the Philippines, to support the efforts of the Philippine Government to alleviate poverty and achieve food self-sufficiency.

The project also serves as a continuing testimony of strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines towards the future.

Top photo shows a scanned copy of the letter of approval from the Japanese Government on the AKBay Program Phase II for Typhoon-Yolanda Affected Areas under the 2KR program. Inset photo shows PCAF officials’ meeting with officials from the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) early this year to discuss the details of the project. From left to right: Ms. Sherilyn Aoyama, JICA Manila Staff; Mr. Ervin Mella, Jr., Senior Program Officer under the Poverty Reduction Section of JICA Manila; Mr. Yoshiyuki Ueno, JICA Manila Representative; Mr. Ryutaro Aoki, EOJ First Secretary, Agriculture; PCAF Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan; PCAF Deputy Exec. Dir. Florabelle Uy-Yap; and, Mr. Takashi Fujimori, DA-JICA Expert.

Top photo shows a scanned copy of the letter of approval from the Japanese Government on the AKBay Program Phase II for Typhoon-Yolanda Affected Areas under the 2KR program. Inset photo shows PCAF officials’ meeting with officials from the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) early this year to discuss the details of the project. From left to right: Ms. Sherilyn Aoyama, JICA Manila Staff; Mr. Ervin Mella, Jr., Senior Program Officer under the Poverty Reduction Section of JICA Manila; Mr. Yoshiyuki Ueno, JICA Manila Representative; Mr. Ryutaro Aoki, EOJ First Secretary, Agriculture; PCAF Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan; PCAF Deputy Exec. Dir. Florabelle Uy-Yap; and, Mr. Takashi Fujimori, DA-JICA Expert.

source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/japan.html