31 March 2004 ---- Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert and Japanese Charge d’ Affaires Akio Egawa signed and Exchanged Notes on three grant assistance projects on 31 March 2004. The said projects are the Philippine-Japan Increase of Food Production (also known as KR2) of the Department Agriculture, worth Y 400 million, the Human Resource Development Scholarship of the NEDA, worth Y77million, and the Supply of Lighting and Sound Equipment for the CCP, valued at Y49.2 million.

The signing ceremony was attended by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan as well as representatives from the CCP, National Agricultural and Fishery Council of the DA and the Scholarship Committee of NEDA.

The Philippine-Japan Increase of Food Production (KR2) project aims to support efforts in the agriculture sector to increase agricultural productivity and the incomes of small farmers and fishermen.

The “Human Resource Development Scholarship” project aims to enhance the capabilities of target beneficiaries from both the public and private sectors, including non-government organizations in accordance with the national development thrust and strategies under the Human Resource Development Sector as stipulated in the 2004-2007 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan.

Furthermore, the Japanese Government shall finance, under the General Grant Aid Program, the living and school expenses of  the 1st Batch of Scholars (for the period 2004-2007). The following fields of study will be made available for the scholars: public administration, economics, business administration, public health, and information technology.

The “Supply of Lighting and Sound Equipment” project under the Cultural Grant Aid Program will help improve the technical quality of artistic productions and cultural events staged by the CCP. It will enable the CCP to provide more efficient service to local and visiting foreign artists and provincial audiences who regularly participate in the Outreach Programme of the CCP.  It will also help the CCP in its program for arts and cultural workers and their roles in cultural planning and implementation.