Honorable Alicia Bonoan
Standards Bureau Director and other officials of Department of Social Welfare and Development
Officials of JVR Foundation
Mr. Tomoyuki Katano and Mr. Norihiro Nose
Board members of The Volunteers' Group to Send Wheelchairs to Overseas Children
Officials of Panasonic Philippines
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat!
First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you for successfully carrying out this project, especially the Japanese NGO “The Volunteers' Group to Send Wheelchairs to Overseas Children” and the ir partner NGO in the Philippines, the “Jesus V. Del Rosario Foundation, Inc.”
I am pleased that the Government of Japan has been able to support this project which contributes to the improvement of the lives of the Filipino children with disabilities. By utilizing the refurbished wheelchairs, the Filipino children will be able to move around more easily and communicate with more people. Therefore, this project will have a significant impact on their physical and mental development.
I would like to point out that all of these 80 wheelchairs were cleaned, refurbished and packed for export by Japanese children and supporters of the Japanese NGO “The Volunteers' Group to Send Wheelchairs to Overseas Children”.
This project has been funded through the scheme of Japan's Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects. We have implemented 19 projects under this scheme since 2002 and witnessed remarkable successes by collaboration between the Japanese NGOs and the Filipino people.
In closing, on behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to express our hope that, with all your efforts, the successful implementation of this project will ensure Filipino children's healthy growth and development, and this project will be one of the symbols of lasting friendship between our two countries.
Maraming salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat.
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines