By Roy Mabasa
Japan will sign five grant contracts amounting to $791,278, or about P41.7 million, for the construction of school rooms, provision of medical equipment, improvement of a rural health center, and provision of a post-harvest facility in certain parts of the country.
In a statement, the Japanese government said the projects are part of Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) and funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) implemented by the Embassy of Japan in Manila.
The signing ceremony will be held on Friday (March 22) at the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City.
The soon-to-be-funded projects are the construction of classroom for Bayanga Norte Elementary School in the Municipality of Matanog and a classroom school building of Datu Saber Elementary School in Marawi City; repair and upgrading of the Main Health Center building and purchase of Laboratory equipment in Dingalan, Aurora; provision of medical equipment for Rural Health Unit of Balete, Batangas, and the procurement of postharvest equipment and facility for the farmers of the Municipality of Calintaan.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda will lead the signing of the grants on behalf of the Japanese government, together with the five recipients composed of Mayor Mohammad-Ali Guro of the Municipality of Matanog; GMA Kapuso Foundation Executive Vice President Annalee Catibog; Mayor Shierwin Taay of the Municipality of Dingalan; Mayor Wilson Maralitof the Municipality of Balete; and Mayor Eric Labrador of the Municipality of Calintaan.
GGP was launched by Japan in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. To date, 538 grassroots projects have been funded by GGP.
Japan, the country’s top ODA donor, believes that this project will not only strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also contribute to further fostering a strategic partnership between the two countries towards the future.