Featured image above shows Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya and IOM Philippines Chief of Mission Tristan Burnett as they sign the Notes on JICA project on maternal and child health care services for IDPs in BaSulTa. Applauding at the back, from the right, are JICA Philippines Chief Representative Baba Takashi, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., BARMM Health Minister Dr. Kadil ‘Jojo’ M. Sinolinding, Jr., and DOH OIC-Director IV Joel Buenaventura. (Photo: SDN)
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MAKATI CITY, January 24, 2026 (SDN) — Japan has long been a partner of the Philippines in the Mindanao peace process, both for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). And this continues with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In fact, the Japanese government in the time of the then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi kicked of this humanitarian, brotherly, and friendly connection in December 2002 through the launch of the “Support Package for Peace and Stability in Mindanao” Program.
Many more projects followed. In fact, since 2002, the Japanese government through its humanitarian arm, the Japan International Agency for Cooperation (JICA), has already contributed for peace and development a total, so far, of US$515 million (around Php26 billion, a staggering number anyway one looks at it) for more than 100 projects.
And it’s safe to say that Japan is not about to stop, or even slow down, helping Mindanao, particularly the Bangsamoro region.
As proof, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya unveiled on January 22 another undertaking at his North Forbes Residence in this affluent city, which is “The Project for Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Services for Internally Displaced Persons on the Remote Islands of Conflict-Affected Areas.”
The event was the signing and exchanging of notes with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the project for BaSulTa’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the far-flung and difficult-to-reach islands of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, collectively known as BaSulTa.
Dubbed “Resilient and Equitable Access to Care and Health in Basulta (REACH-BaSulTa), Japan’s latest assistance is worth ￥516,000,000 (around Php1.38 million — Php1 to ￥2.68521). JICA has tapped the IOM headed in the Philippines by Chief of Mission Tristan Burnett to implement the project.
Endo cited the project as his government’s commitment towards sustainable and resilient health system.
“The project is a commitment to building a sustainable and resilient health system that prioritizes the well-being of all individuals. By addressing the systemic gaps in health services, we hope to foster an environment where every mother and child has access to the care they need,” the Japanese envoy emphasizes.
Select dignitaries witnessed the “Ceremonial Signing & Exchange of Notes with IOM”, among them are Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Maria Roseny Fangco, Ministry of Health (MOH-BARMM) Minister Dr. Kadil “Jojo” M. Sinolinding, Jr., Department of Health (DOH) OIC-Director IV Joel Buenaventura, and JICA Philippines Chief Representative BABA Takashi.
Sinolinding thanks Japan, its people, JICA, and UN-IOM for Bangsamoro partnership
Minister Sinolinding noted the Japanese government’s enduring partnership with the Bangsamoro people, saying it was his honor and profound gratitude to be present and witness the ceremonial signing and exhanging of notes between the Japan and IOM.
“For decades, Japanese government through JICA has been a strong partner of the Bangsamoro people from governance, education, infrastructure, peace building initiatives, and health and nutrition. Now, we recognize that this project exemplifies our shared commitment to improve the health outcomes to our under-served populations — the (IDPs) living in remote and conflict-affected areas,” the Bangsamoro health chief points out.
“This is a testament to the strength of international partnerships, solidarity for peace, and collective effort that essential services are provided and accessed for better outcomes to the lives of our people. We shall not waver, nor falter.”
Japan’s latest grant assistance is for “upgrading health facilities and provision of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) equipment to meet Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) and PhilHealth standards.”
Covered by the project is the implementation of “targeted technical training of health workers and technical assistance to support health facilities in achieving and sustaining BEmoNC compliance and PhilHealth accreditation.”
REACH BaSulTa was also crafted to address critical gaps in health facility readiness, workforce capacity, and community awareness, with a focus on internally displaced and mobile populations in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa).
There’s more from the project. Included is the promotion of culturally sensitive, integrated MNCH health promotion campaigns and support government-led PhilHealth registration drives. This two-tiered approach — strengthening both health systems and community engagement — aims to improve MNCH practices and expand access to quality services for women, adolescents, caregivers, and displaced populations.
Endo cited Japan’s long standing commitment towards supporting BARMM as his government recognizes the region’s persistent challenges.
IOM’s Burnett agreed with the Japanese envoy’s observation, acknowledging the systemic issues confronting the Bangsamoro, among them, insufficient human resources for health and lack of well-functioning facilities. Theses challenges, she added, are made more difficult to navigate by several factors like security and geography, an obstacle in accessing necessary care.
The IOM chief was apparently referring to the scattered islands of BaSulTa separated by the sea.
Sinolinding also took note in his speech at the event the geographic challenges.
“In the (BARMM), we face inherent but recurring challenges — geography, socio-economic, governance and security-related issues — that significantly affects provision and access of quality health care. But we cannot stop, instead to relentlessly push foward,” the Bangsamoro MOH chief stresses. He noted the project as a collaborative initiative between the Japanese government and the IOM with the Bangsamoro people as the beneficiary.
Endo describes the project that started in 2025 and ends in 2028 as a symbol of “a critical step forward in our continued partnership with the Philippines, particularly in addressing the pressing health needs of vulnerable populations” in the Bangsamoro.
But there positives about maternal and infant mortality rates (MM/MR) in the BARMM as the BARMM-MOH noted.
“We are proud to share that our (MM/MR) had made significant progress through the years from 2010 until today. This positive trend reflects our ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health care and nutrition. We ensure safer pregnancies. childbirths, care for infants and children to most but not ‘all’ Bangsamoro women. Now, we are targeting each one of them. And that, we say ‘Alhamdulillah’ (Praise God),” Sinolinding assures.
Speaking for the BARMM, “we pledge to continue working hand in hand with the Japanese government thru JICA and the United Nations-IOM, and even replicate this initiative to other areas as well.”
On behalf of BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, Sinolinding thanked Japan and its people and its JICA, the IOM. “This is a pledge we commit not only today but to the days ahead of us.” EDD K. USMAN (/)
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The author
EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)