On December 7, 2022, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), utilizing the Asian Infrastructure Partnership Trust Fund (LEAP) funded by JICA, signed a loan agreement with Tiger Infrastructure Philippines Inc (Tiger), a private telecommunications operator in the Philippines, for a total of (Tiger), a private telecommunications operator in the Philippines, on December 7, 2022. Of this amount, US$15 million will be utilized through LEAP (see note).
The number of radio communication towers per million people in the Philippines is 164, one of the lowest among ASEAN countries, and the Philippine government estimates that 60,000 new towers will be needed by 2031. The government of the Philippines estimates that 60,000 new towers will be needed by 2031. The government of the Philippines estimates that 60,000 new towers will be needed by 2031. In the Mindanao and Visayas islands in the southern part of the Philippines, which are the target areas of this project, the slow development of the telecommunications network is a major issue.
This project will contribute to the economic development of the target areas and the correction of regional economic disparities in the Philippines through the construction of 380 new radio communication towers and support for their operation in Mindanao and the Visayas. This project will contribute to SDG Goal 9 (Create a foundation for industry and technological innovation) and Goal 17 (Achieve the goals through partnership).
JICA will continue to work with other countries and international organizations to promote “high-quality infrastructure investment” and contribute to the economic and social development of developing countries and regions.
(Note) LEAP (Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund) is a trust fund mentioned in the follow-up measures to the “High Quality Infrastructure Partnership” announced by the Japanese government on November 21, 2015. JICA has agreed to invest US$1.5 billion in LEAP in March 2016. LEAP supports a wide range of high-quality, sustainable private sector infrastructure projects in ADB member countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including greenhouse gas reduction, energy conservation, and affordable health services.
© Source JICA