Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects “Provision of Emergency Vehicles for BFP” Blessing Ceremony

2017/5/23

Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) - Press Release No. 23- 2017

     

          
 
First Secretary Takuhiro Watanabe attended the ceremony of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)*1 on May 17, 2017 at the Sipalay City New Government Center, Negros Occidental. The event had the blessing ceremony of “The Project for Providing Emergency Vehicles to 11 Local Government Units in Visayas, FY 2015” particularly the nine (9) units of emergency vehicles donated to Negros Occidental under the Provision of Emergency Vehicles for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)*2. The event was joined by key officials of the BFP such as CSUPT Bobby Baruelo, Director of BFP National Headquarters and SSUPT Fred Trajeras, Jr., Director of BFP–Negros Island Region (NIR). The ceremony was also witnessed by Hon. Mercedes Alvarez, Congresswoman of the 6th District of Negros Occidental well as the Mayors, representatives and fire fighters from the six (6) beneficiary municipalities in the province.
 
Visayas Island is highly exposed to natural disasters and other emergencies. For the past years, this island have experienced strong typhoons, high magnitude earthquakes and fire related incidents that caused loss of lives of many Filipinos and huge damages in infrastructure and livelihood. In such situations, BFP is among the agencies that is in the forefront of disaster response. However, BFP lacks emergency vehicles for their operations. In order to improve BFP’s capability on emergency response, provision of additional emergency vehicles is needed.
 
To address this problem, the Embassy of Japan extended assistance to BFP by providing 9 units of emergency vehicles in Visayas particularly in the municipalities of Kabankalan, Cauayan, Candoni, Ilog, Hinoba-an and Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
 
Through this endeavor, BFP will be able to improve their services during emergency response cognizant to the efforts being made by Japan in improving disaster risk reduction and management in the Philippines.
 
 
Note*1;The Government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of present, 525 grassroots projects have been funded by GGP. Japan believes that this project will not only strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also contribute to further fostering a strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines toward the future.
 
Note*2; Project Summary of “PROVISION OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES FOR BFP”
 
1st  (2014)
1. Project Title: The project for Providing Emergency Vehicles for the Typhoon “Yolanda”- Affected Areas in the Philippines
2. Amount: 202,760 US Dollars
3. Number of Vehicles: 20 units (Fire truck 17 units, Ambulance 3 units)
4. Target Area : 17 Municipalities in Visayas
 
2nd  (2015)
1. Project Title: The project for Providing Emergency Vehicles to 11 local Government Units in Visayas
2. Amount: 240,572 US Dollars
3. Number of Vehicles: 17 units (Fire truck 9 units, Ambulance 7 unit, Rescue truck 1 unit)
4. Target Area: 11 Municipalities in Visayas
 
3rd  (2016)
1. Project Title: The project for Providing Emergency Vehicles to 15 local Government Units in Mindanao
2. Amount: 250,247 US Dollars
3. Number of Vehicles: 17 units (Fire truck 2 units, Ambulance 14 units, Rescue truck 1unit)
4. Target Area: 15 Municipalities in Mindanao