JAPANESE Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said educating voters would result in electing competent members of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament in May next year.

Kazuya added that Japan would give 234 million yen (about $1.5 million) to fund an education campaign for voters in the area.

Kazuya and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran signed a partnership agreement during the initiative's launch on Thursday.

"I think it is very important for us to support the development of the quality of life of the people in [the] Bangsamoro [area] as well as support the political process of that region because I think those two issues have to go in tandem; otherwise, neither of them would be successful," Kazuya said.

"This is related to the security and stability of the Philippines. And the Philippines is a very much significant country for Japan as we are collaborating with the Philippines in a wide range of issues," he added.

Ramachandran said the initiative was an opportunity for UNDP to contribute to expanding democratic space in a region where poverty reduction and security for all were key priorities to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace on Aug. 2, 2024. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING/PPA POOL

The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018 led to the establishment of the BARMM, with the goal of achieving peace, stability and progressive socio-economic development in the region.

The 2025 elections would mark a significant step toward enhancing BARMM's capacity for self-governance through an electoral mandate that reflects the aspirations and diversity of its people.