Japan, inanunsyo ang bagong P275-M funding para sa WPS agenda sa BARMM

POPONDOHAN ng Japanese government ang JPY724-million (P275 million) project na makatutulong sa pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng mga kababaihan at gender-based violence sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Sa paglagda sa ‘exchange of notes’ sa proyekto, sinabi ni Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, nagbigay ng hudyat sa inisyatibang patuloy na pagsuporta ng Tokyo sa women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda sa rehiyon.

“Our human security cooperation with the Philippines in BARMM provides a strategic opportunity for seeking gender-sensitive solutions, especially in the conflict affected areas,” ang sinabi ni Kazuya sa side event sa 2024 International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security sa Pasay City.

“Leveraging Japan’s expertise and resources, we hope to reinforce BARMM’s nutrition and health structures and increase women’s resilience to social economic and disaster risks,” dagdag na wika nito.

Ipatutupad ng United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) ang programa at tatakbo ito sa loob ng tatlong taon para mapakinabangan ng mahigit sa 30% ng mga pamilya sa lahat ng walong munisipalidad ng Special Geographic Areas in Bangsamoro.

Sakop ng inisyatiba ang dalawang iba pang kalapit munisipalidad sa Maguindanao del Sur.

Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ni UNFPA country representative Leila Joudane na makapagtatatag ang naturang proyekto ng 10 mga bagong ligtas na lugar na magsisilbi bilang sanctuary o santuwaryo o safe havens para sa kababaihan lalo na sa mga biktima ng gender-based violence.

Idagdag pa rito, mapahuhusay ang access sa ‘sexual at reproductive health services’ sa pamamagitan ng ‘capacity building at probisyon ng dalawang “women’s health on wheels”.’

“These mobile birthing facilities will provide maternal and reproductive health care for women in remote areas, where there is a lack of emergency services,” ani Joudane.

“At UNFPA, we firmly believe that empowering women is essential for sustainable development and peace. Women are not just beneficiaries; they are dynamic agents of change, vital for driving progress, peace and stability in their communities,” ang sinabi pa ni Joudane.

“Our initiatives in BARMM aim to uplift women who have faced marginalization and violence, equipping them with the tools they need to become leaders in their own right, and to foster stability within their communities,” dagdag na wika ni Joudane.

Sinabi naman ng Japanese Embassy na ang bagong inisyatiba ay magko-complement sa Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on WPS 2023-2028 Program at maging sa 10-year Philippine National Action Plan on WPS 2023-2033.

“Our embassy has funded a lot of projects in Mindanao, but this project is very special because this project is especially targeting the promotion of WPS agenda,” ayon kay Embassy First Secretary Ishizaka Asuka.

“This project is very well designed to align with those two regional and national action plans on WPS — that is a very special point, we think, and very innovative project,” ani Asuka.