TOKYO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some of the Japanese central government
departments unveiled their decision Wednesday to secure larger budgets for the
fiscal 2009 for their respective purposes.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will seek a 10.3 percent
rise from the current year's initial budget to 1,634.8 billion yen for fiscal
2009 starting next April.
With an eye to the development of new technologies to save energy and cut
greenhouse gas emissions, the METI will appropriate23.8 billion yen, as against
2.6 billion yen in fiscal 2005, for the introduction of household solar power
generation systems.
And the METI is also to assign 717.3 billion yen to address climate change
and energy security.
The Defense Ministry will increase by 2.2 percent to 4,844.9 billion yen in
its fiscal 2009 budget.
According to a report presented to a Liberal Democratic Party panel on
Wednesday, the rise in budget is to cover soaring energy costs and upgrade the
F-15 fighter jets.
The ministry intends to earmark 17.8 billion yen for improving Self-Defense
Forces equipment for future operations overseas including bullet-proof panels
for CH-47 cargo helicopters of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism hopes to secure
an 18 percent expansion over its initial fiscal 2008 budget to 6,937.2 billion
yen.
The planned request of the land ministry is to promote policies in three
core areas of measures against global warming, enhancing the safety of society
and boosting economic growth in Japan.
Of the total budget, 6,262.9 billion yen will be used to finance public
works projects, a 19 percent rise on the current year's initial budget.
In order to cover the operations of the consumer agency to be established
in fiscal 2009, the Cabinet Office also unveiled the decision to add 18,238
million yen to its fiscal 2009 budget.
Of the addition of 18 billion yen, 1,354 million yen will be used to handle
consumer complaints and operate emergency headquarters in case of major
accidents.
