Home> JBIC Chief Representative visits Palawan JBIC Chief Representative visits Palawan by Daryl Licerio Project Development Officer I

Mr. Osamu Murata, Chief Representative to the Philippines of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) visited Palawan on February 17-19, 2005. The visit was in line with the regular Coordination Meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Management Project in Northern Palawan (SEMP-NP), a project funded by JBIC.

During the meeting, the executing agencies of the project updated the body on the progress and accomplishments of the project as well as issues and concerns. The executing agencies are the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the Soil Erosion Protection Component, Department of Tourism (DOT) for the Sustainable Tourism Development Component and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) for the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Zoning Component. SEMP-NP Project Director and DOT Senior Adviser Evelyn Pantig chaired the meeting.

Dir. Louella Jurilla, DOT Regional Director for Region IV, PCSDS Executive Director Nelson Devanadera, Deputy Executive Director Romeo Dorado and Director Josephine Matulac, Director II of PCSDS Project Operations and Implementation Department (POID) and Program Coordinator for the ECAN Zoning Component were all in attendance.

With the visit, Mr. Murata had a chance to assess the progress of the SEMP-NP Road Project, the El Nido-Taytay Road as well as the ECAN maps and equipments, including the vehicles, provided for by the project. He also inspected the Taytay -Roxas Road which is included in the newly proposed 27th Yen Loan Package.

Mr. Murata's trip was graced with the presence of Congressman Antonio C. Alvarez of the First District of Palawan. He also paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Governor. Ms. Flerida Chan, JBIC Project Officer for SEMP-NP was with Mr. Murata.

SEMP-NP is a project of the Philippine government and being funded by JBIC. The ECAN Zoning Component, one of the three components of the project and working on the establishment of ECAN Zones as a tool for environmental protection, is being implemented by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). It is expected to be finished by December 2006.