Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) Promotion in Cotabato City for Philippine NGOs

Second Secretary Takuhiro Watanabe attended the promotion activity last November 16, 2016 for “The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP)1 Promotion” held in Cotabato City. The activity was organized by the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) in partnership with the local NGOs. The event was attended by almost thirty two (32) participants and representatives from various Philippine NGOs in Cotabato and nearby areas.
 
In his opening address, Mr.Watanabe mentioned that EOJ has implemented 519 projects amounting to US$ 30,336,247 in the Philippines, which provided facilities and equipment for education, health, agriculture and capacity building under the GGP. EOJ has been prioritizing and supporting promotion of socio-economic and development especially in Mindanao area since J-BIRD’s2 implementation in 2006.  He emphasized that the promotion is a chance for the participants to understand the GGP scheme as well as assurance of Japan’s continuous participation in promoting socio-economic assistance in Mindanao.
 
The promotion was held to introduce and explain to all the participants more about GGP including the kind of projects the program supports and the process of application.  At the end of the presentation, participants were given the chance to make clarifications and ask questions about GGP. Many of them have expressed their interest in GGP and want to improve the condition of their communities through this scheme.
 

1 The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) was established in 1989 to assist NGOs and local public authorities in developing countries in responding to various development needs in a prompt and complete manner, even though on a comparatively scale.
For more information about GGP / Japan’s ODA to the Philippines, please visit our website at:  https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/bilateral/oda/grassroots.html.

2 Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for conflict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development). Their total amount is over 200 million US Dollar. Furthermore, when President Aquino made a state visit to Japan last June 2015, Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, expressed at their summit meeting his support for efforts by the Government of the Philippines to secure enduring peace in Mindanao, and stated that the Government of Japan will promote the J-BIRD II (Note), in view of the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.
(Note: A new phase of the J-BIRD that will focus more on ensuring economic autonomy in the Bangsamoro Area).