Minister Motohiko Kato (2 nd from left) and Mr. Takehiko Sakata (3rd from left) of the Embassy of Japan together with Mayor John D. Balasya of the Municipality of Kayapa (far left) handling over the Memorandum of Agreement for the management of the Latbang Potable Water Supply System to Barangay Captain Elmer Dupayat (far right) and Mr. Dangpas Allaga (2nd from right) of the Latbang Water Association during the turnover ceremony held in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya on 19 November 2010. |
Photo shows one of the 19 faucet stands in Barangay Latbang donated by the people of Japan to address the need for potable water supply in the area. |
Minister Motohiko Kato, Embassy of Japan's Deputy Chief of Mission, attended the turnover ceremony of “The Project for Construction of Potable Water Supply System in Barangay Latbang in the Municipality of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya” on November 19, 2010. Kayapa Municipal Mayor John D. Balasya also witnessed the ceremony . The p roject, amounting to US$ 37,302 (approximately 1.7 million pesos), is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
Barangay Latbang is the farthest of the 30 barangays from the center of the Municipality of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya. While it has numerous springs and creeks, the barangay has no source of potable water in its vicinity . Residents have to hike at least two hours to get their drinking water from a mountain or use rain water to sustain their other basic water needs.
To address this problem, the Municipal Government of Kayapa sought the assistance from the Embassy of Japan. Using the grant from GGP, a Level II Water System has been constructed in Barangay Latbang that include four units of reservoir and 19 faucets strategically located around the community . Now, thanks to the operation of the water system, women and children will no longer have to walk for hours just to fetch drinking water. It is also expected that the project will decrease the incidence of water-borne diseases that has long been the problem in the area.
In his speech, Minister Kato stressed that with the project, the time being spent by residents in fetching water can now be used in other productive activities. The project will likewise help the Philippines achieve one of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, which is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.
Japan launched, as the top donor of the official development assistance, G GP in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of March 20 10 , 434 grassroots projects funded by GGP – ranging from roughly 1 to 4 million pesos – have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations. The total grant for these projects so far amounts to US$ 18,982,775 . It is expected that this project will add to fostering the strategic partnership between the two countries towards the future.
Speech of Minister M. Kato
Japanese Version
