AMBASSADOR Kazuhide Ishikawa signed on March 10 four grant contracts at the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) in Pasay City among representatives of respective recipient organizations for various social development projects in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
The ceremony was attended by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Nabil Tan.
The EOJ funded a total amount of $355,427 (approximately P15 million), through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).
The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Del Pilar Elementary School in New Corella, Davao Del Norte, involves the construction of one school building with fourclassrooms with comfort rooms, the procurement of 161 pieces of arm chairs, four sets of teacher’s tables and chairs, four pieces of black boards; as well as the installation of rain collector and water tank for the benefit of 686 students and teachers of Del Pilar Elementary School. The proponent is the local government unit of New Collera, with grant amount of $77,991, or approximately P3.3 million.
Meanwhile, the Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Tictapul Elementary School in Vitali District in Zamboanga City involves the construction of one unit of a four-classroom building with comfort rooms and procurement of 200 pieces of armchairs, four sets of teacher’s tables and chairs and four pieces of black boards for the benefit of 729 students and teachers of Tictapul Elementary School. The proponent is the Philam Foundation,Inc., with grant amount of $86,960, or approximately P3.6 million.
Another is the Project for the Provision of One Unit Mobile Clinic for Zamboanga City Medical Center, which involves the procurement of one unit of mobile clinic for the same proponent to give medical services in the transitory sites in the area. A truck will be customized to fit the function of a mobile clinic equipped with digital x-ray machine, transport ventilator, electrocardiograph channel, laryngoscope, blood-pressure apparatus, ambu-bag and portable oxygen with accessories. Amount of grant is $92,857, or about P3.9 million.
Last, the Project for the Acquisition of One Unit of Container Wing Van for Small Rice Farmers in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, involves the procurement of a unit of hauling vehicle, a 12-ton capacity wing van, to serve the farmer-members of the cooperative and other farmers living in the vicinity of the said town, through the Labangan Farmers First Consolidated Multipurpose Cooperative, amounting to $97,619, or approximately P4.1 million worth of grant.
Since the launch of J-BIRD in 2006, Japan has supported 92 GGP projects amounting to $8.27 million. It believes that these projects will strengthen not only friendship between itself and the Philippines, but also the existing strategic partnership of the two countries.