Ambassador Toshinao Urabe, together with Japanese Officials from the Embassy visited General Santos City and its nearby provinces last August 17-18, 2012.
During his trip, His Excellency met Hon. Miguel Rene Dominguez, Governor of Sarangani Province, Hon. Elmo Tolosa, Vice-Governor of South Cotabato Province, Hon. Darlene Antonino Custodio, Mayor of General Santos City and Mr. Ismael Sueno, former Governor of South Cotabato Province.
Japan contributes to active fishery industry and employment creation in General Santos
His Excellency was given a tour around the General Santos Fish Port Complex and in TENPOINT Manufacturing Corporation in General Santos on the 17th.
The General Santos Fish Port Complex was funded through the Official Development Assistance of the Government of Japan.
His Excellency Toshinao Urabe witnessed how the assistance from Japan is bolstering the fishery industry and creating employments in General Santos. Mr. Carlos Hagosojos, Port Manager of the General Santos Fish Port Complex guided the delegation.
TENPOINT Manufacturing Corporation is a tuna processing company capitalized by a Japanese company. It generates around 1,000 jobs in General Santos.
Mr. Retsu Sato, TENPOINT President, explains to His Excellency Toshinao Urabe how Tuna is processed for export to the Japanese market.
His Excellency also visited banana and fish culture farm run by Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc.
After familiarizing with the economic activity in General Santos, His Excellency attended the Turnover ceremony of “the Project for the Construction of Post Harvest Facilities for CARP Beneficiaries of Barangay Bual, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat” and made a site visit on “the Project for the Provision of Micro-Credit Capital for Augmentation of Income and Poverty Alleviation in South Cotabato” on August 18.
It was an informative tour of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Here is the link to the press release about the turnover ceremony:
< http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/pressandspeech/press/pressreleases/2012/71.htm >
Japan supports micro-entrepreneurs through micro-credit in South Cotabato
The Project for the Provision of Micro-Credit Capital for Augmentation of Income and Poverty Alleviation in South Cotabato, amounting to US$ 183,947 (approximately 8.5 million pesos), wa s funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). Ambassador Urabe was informed that for almost one (1) year of operation, the fund has already earned an interest income of P2, 400,000.00 and has benefited almost 930 micro-entrepreneurs whose majority are women.
Ambassador Urabe with Dr. Elmo Tolosa, Vice-Governor of South Cotabato and Ms. Belen Fecundo, SCFI Executive Director.
Women beneficiaries of the Micro-Credit Project of SCFI funded through the GGP.
