(Nilagdaan ng Japan, PH) P12.3-B LOAN DEAL PARA SA COVID-19 RECOVERY

MULING nakautang ang Pilipinas sa Japan para pondohan ang nagpapatuloy na COVID-19 recovery efforts nito, ayon sa Department of Finance (DOF).

Sa isang statement, sinabi ng DOF na nilagdaan nina Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at Akihiko Tanaka, ang bagong presidente ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ang ¥30 billion loan agreement noong Lunes, April 25, sa Tokyo, Japan

Ang loan agreement ay nasa ilalim ng second phase ng  COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan (CCRESL 2) ng JICA.

Ang first phase ng CCRESL, na nagkakahalaga ng ¥50 billion, ay nilagdaan ng Pilipinas at Japan noong July 2020 para suportahan ang COVID-19 response at economic relief efforts ng pamahalaan.

“The CCRESL 2 was inked in recognition of the Philippines’ accomplishments and plans in vaccinating its target population against COVID-19 and expanding the capability of its healthcare system to meet the challenges of possible public health emergencies in the future,” ayon sa DOF.

Ang latest loan agreement, na katumbas ng P12.3 billion o $234.36 million, ay may concessional lending term na 0.01% fixed interest rate per annum na may maturity period na 15 taon, kasama na rito ang f our-year grace period, na katulad sa naunang¥50 billion CCRESL.

Nagpasalamat si Dominguez sa Japanese government sa patuloy na pagsuporta sa development programs at  pandemic response efforts ng bansa.

Aniya, ang Japan ay nananatiling pinakamalaking provider ng official development assistance (ODA) sa bansa.

“The term of President Duterte’s administration ends in June of this year. We have accomplished much in improving our economy’s fiscal position and growth prospects. We would not have done this without the timely assistance of the people and the government of Japan,” ani Dominguez.