Japan's Abe pledges $8.7 billion USD a 5 year public-private package for Philippines Infrastructure projects

Japan PM Abe at Duterte home in Davao, the Philippines on Jan. 12. Photographer: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images

MANILA (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a 1 trillion yen ($8.7 billion) aid package, including government aid and public investments, for the Philippines over the next five years to help its infrastructure development, in a bid to strengthen strategic ties with the key nation in the Asia-Pacific region amid China's growing presence.

"We will leverage Japanese technology and know-how to the fullest extent to positively cooperate for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines," said Abe in a joint press conference in Manila after meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

Abe is the first foreign head of government to visit the country since Duterte took power last June and met Duterte for the third time.

Abe and Duterte said they agreed to enhance maritime and security cooperation in their talks at the Malacanang Palace. Abe said China's military buildup in disputed waters of the South China Sea influences regional peace and stability, and is a global concern.

"We will continue to forge ahead with our efforts to advance the rule of law in order to secure the waters in our region," Duterte said. "As maritime nations, the Philippines and Japan have a shared interest in keeping our waters safe and secure from threats of any kind."

The two countries agreed to establish a joint committee to expedite Japan's involvement in infrastructural development in the fast-growing Southeast Asian nation, Abe said. Such an effort by Tokyo is also apparently aimed at thwarting China's growing influence on the Philippines.

Abe also said Japan will provide support for rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts in the Philippines.

The Philippines is Abe's first stop of his four-nation tour since Thursday. He will also visit Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Abe hopes that the Philippines, a key maritime nation in the Asia-Pacific region, remains committed to an alliance with the United States in maintaining regional peace and stability, and countering the growing assertiveness of China at sea, Japanese officials said.

Duterte, a former Davao mayor and prosecutor, has reacted angrily when Washington aired concerns about extrajudicial killings in Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Duterte has also resumed talks with China, the world's second-largest economy, to boost cooperation and signaled he is prepared to set aside territorial disputes with the nation in the South China Sea.

Abe's meeting with Duterte at Malacanang Palace in Manila comes ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president on Jan. 20. It is unclear whether the Philippines' relations with the United States will mend under the incoming Trump administration, analysts said.

Abe also promised Japan's full support for the Philippines in chairing a series of meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, expecting their efforts to address the South China Sea issue will be high on agenda.

Japan is not a claimant in the South China Sea disputes between China, the Philippines and four other governments, but it is concerned about China's rising military presence in the resource-rich area and busy shipping lanes.

Tokyo also faces challenges from Beijing related to China's claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

During the Abe-Duterte summit, Japan and the Philippines exchanged papers on Japan providing high-speed boats to the Philippine Coast Guard in a bid to enhance maritime safety. The offer was announced by Abe when Duterte visited Japan last October.

Tokyo will also aid flood prevention work in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao where Duterte is from.

Abe and Duterte will meet for breakfast at the Philippine president's home in Davao in Mindanao on Friday, the officials said, as Abe seeks to build a close personal relationship of trust with him. Abe will become the first sitting foreign leader to visit Davao, the officials said. – The Mainichi

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Nickelodeon to open in 2020 a 400 Hectares Dora the Explorer, & Underwater Sponge Bob Park in Palawan Island Philippines

El Nido, Palawan Island in the Philippines

Philippine environment Minister Gina Lopez vocally rejected the Dora the Explorer underwater theme park plan as the concept of the “name underwater park” could destroy the environment but it seem just a misunderstanding as the project which is expected to open by year 2020 is just a common resort except that there are some futurist feature such as underwater restaurant and underwater lounge.

A 1,000 acre or 400 hectares area is referring to land and not underwater. The kiddy TV program “Dora the Explorer” which teaches the kids about nature; animals, mountains and plants could not be realistic to be built under the water.

SpongeBob the Squarepants does not need hectares wide area underwater to looks realistic so the vocal objection of the Philippines minister could be just misunderstanding about the concept of the controversial wide underwater area of the whole project.

Recently, environment minister says she will not allow US TV network Nickelodeon to build park on pristine Palawan Island.

Hidden lagoon in Palawan Island, the Philippines

The Philippine environment minister has said the US children’s television network Nickelodeon will not be allowed to build an underwater theme park on one of the country’s most pristine islands.

Nickelodeon’s parent firm announced on Monday it would build a themed attraction inspired by its cartoon characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from environmentalists.

The environment secretary, Gina Lopez, said on Wednesday she would reject the project.

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“Lopez says she won’t allow the underwater theme park in Palawan,” the environment department tweeted.

“Dora the Explorer animated kiddy TV show”

In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Lopez said she would not allow any project that would damage the environment and the welfare of local communities.

“That’s our wealth. It’s not allowed. You can’t kill the corals. For a theme park? No. No way, man,” said Lopez, who has been a vocal opponent of mining projects in Palawan.

“The commitment of the government is first and foremost and always, always to the benefit of our people.”

Conservation groups call Palawan the country’s “last ecological frontier” because of its relatively untouched coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in south-east Asia.

Palawan is home to two UNESCO world heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Tubbataha coral reefs, Palawan island in the Philippines

Monday’s statement by Nickelodeon’s parent firm, Viacom International Media Networks, said its resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six meters (20ft) below sea level.

It also said the Palawan project would “take its place alongside” other Nickelodeon-branded attractions such as Wet’n’Wild in Australia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Land in Russia and IMG Worlds of Legends theme park in Dubai.

An online petition organized by local environmentalists calling for the project to be stopped attracted more than 125,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Viacom’s Philippine partner, Coral World Park, issued a statement on Wednesday insisting the development was not a theme park and emphasized that it would not all be underwater.

The statement also highlighted the project’s “ocean conservation focus” and said it would help fund environmental protection in the area.

It referred to plans for a marine sanctuary and said the Coral World Park would “be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia”.

“There has never been any form of communication from our side mentioning a theme park,” said Susan Lee, Coral World Park’s marketing and communications director.

Palawan Island rank as the best island in the world for already 2 consecutive years.

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