Ambassador Makoto Katsura, third from left was joined by Senator Edgardo Angara, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo of Aurora Province and Mayor Ariel Bitong of Ma. Aurora in the unveiling of ODA marker during the turnover ceremony of the Ma. Aurora Community Hospital
Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura attended the turnover ceremony of “The Project for Upgrading of Maria Aurora Community Hospital ” in the Municipality of Ma ria Aurora on August 18, 2009. The ceremony was joined by Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Aurora Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo.
The project was implemented by the Provincial Government of Aurora with the grant amounting to 7,110,800 Yen (approximately USD 61,300) funded under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
Maria Aurora Community Hospital (MACH), located in the Municipality of Maria Aurora , Aurora Province , faced more needs for quality health care services from 40,000 residents of the municipality than it could adequately meet, because of the limitations regarding the necessary medical equipment.
With the grant, the Provincial Government of Aurora has provided medical equipment such as laboratory tools, medical instruments, beds, delivery and examination tables, and nursing and dental equipment to cater to the health and medical needs of the residents. In addition, the hospital was also supported through the grant for the construction of a sewage treatment facility to improve sanitary condition in the hospital as well as a powerhouse with an electric generator to provide ample supply of electricity for the hospital even in case of emergencies.
Ambassador Katsura stated in his speech in the ceremony that the provision of equipment and facilities to the hospital would contribute to the enhancement of health care services in the Municipality of Maria Aurora .
The GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. Since then, more than 400 small-scale grassroots projects amounting to a total of 238 Million Yen (approximately 2.1 Million USD) have been implemented by NGOs, local Government Units (LGU), and other non-profit organizations.
Speech of Ambassador Makoto Katsura
Japanese Version
