THE JAPAN International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is keen on providing more funding support for road and railway projects in the Philippines.

“We are very keen and enthusiastic not just to maintain but to expand our cooperation with the Philippines as a most reliable partner,” JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Takema Sakamoto told reporters on the sidelines of a forum on Tuesday.

“In the SONA (State of the Nation Address), President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. mentioned several project names we are involved in,” Mr. Sakamoto said, citing the Plaridel Bypass Road, the Metro Manila Subway, and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).

The Finance department and JICA have already signed loan deals for those projects. However, the huge funding requirements of these projects may require “further financial intervention” from JICA, he added.