Japan is extending P13.27 million-worth of grant projects that will benefit three local government units in the Philippines as part of Tokyo's strategic partnership with Manila for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Wednesday, Dec. 6, signed three grant contracts under Japan's Grass Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) to fund the construction of a high school building, provision of an ambulance and of a portable X-ray machine.

The high school building will be built for Anoyon High School in Valencia, Bohol. It will be worth P5.27 million, according to the Japanese embassy.

"In Municipality of Valencia, due to lack of a public high school in the central region, Grade 7 to 12 students have had to commute to schools in far locations. Commuting on mountainous terrains is time consuming, uneconomical, and unsafe for students," the embassy said in launching the project.

Meanwhile, the local government of Sipocot in Camarines Sur will be given an ambulance under a grant project amounting to P3.05 million to be able to respond to around 200 additional ambulance requests for dispatch annually.

That would contribute to stronger and more efficient emergency and disaster operations, the embassy said.

Lastly, Japan will provide a portable chest X-ray machine to the local government of Olongapo City as the number of tuberculosis (TB) screening in the area decreased since Covid-19 outbreak.

The situation also hindered the city's prevention and treatment measures, especially among the high TB risk group, such as the Aeta people and the indigenous community in the mountains, the embassy said.

"With the portable X-ray machine (provided by FUJIFILM Philippines Inc.) procured through the GGP project, CHSI, Inc., the Manila-based NGO, and Olongapo City will be able to conduct active TB case finding and provide comprehensive healthcare services to Aeta people and the urban poor," the embassy said.