Building on months of close coordination and planning, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), through the Ministry of Health (MOH), have taken a major step forward in their first health sector technical cooperation project in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The signing of the Record of Discussions (RD) for the “Project for Strengthening Services in Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Improvement in the BARMM” marks the beginning of the project’s rollout, confirming a shared commitment to deliver improved maternal and child health services across Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur. Held on June 19, 2025, in Manila, the signing was led by JICA Philippines Office Chief Representative BABA Takashi and BTA Chief Minister Honorable Abdulraof Macacua. Both partners are now fully aligned to move the project into its three-year operational phase until 2028.
The project seeks to address the persistent health gaps in the availability of and access to quality care, particularly for women and children. Many health facilities in the BARMM operate with limited resources and personnel. In some areas, even basic services like antenatal checkups or postpartum care remain inaccessible. The lack of trained staff, weak internet connectivity, and administrative bottlenecks, such as delayed submission of claims to PhilHealth, further hinder service delivery.
Through this technical cooperation, JICA and the MOH aim to improve the health indicators across the BARMM, which continue to fall behind national averages. The World Bank reported in 2020[1] that under-five mortality in the region is twice the national figure, and nearly 40% of children under five are stunted. Fewer than half of pregnant women complete the recommended four antenatal visits, which is well below the national rate of 86.5%. These figures underscore the urgency of a comprehensive response.
Core interventions will include strengthening of maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN) services in the identified sites with the highest service deficits. The project will also focus on improving how local health systems are managed, building up the capabilities of frontline health workers, and encouraging community participation in promoting healthier practices. Services such as antenatal care, safe childbirth, emergency obstetric and newborn care, postpartum follow-ups, and nutrition support, will be prioritized.
JICA will support the project by dispatching experts, upgrading equipment in selected health facilities, and providing training programs to build technical and administrative capacity. The BTA, on the other hand, will lead the project implementation, working with local government units, provincial health offices, and PhilHealth’s regional office, to achieve the target outcomes.
Beyond managing day-to-day coordination, the BTA is also tasked with ensuring that the improvements introduced under the project can be sustained even after the cooperation period ends.
By strengthening these services and supporting local capacity, the initiative also empowers women, many of whom are the primary caregivers, and lays the foundation for more resilient and inclusive communities. As JICA’s first health sector technical cooperation project in the BARMM, this initiative sets a precedent for future collaborations grounded in local ownership and sustainability, anchored in the health and well-being of the Bangsamoro people.
JICA continues to extend cooperation to the Bangsamoro through various efforts, to name a few: Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro, the Road Network Development Project for Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao, the Program for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructures in Bangsamoro and the dispatch of JICA advisors to BTA.
