Japan Turns Over Emergency Vehicles and Equipment to Victorias City through the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects

On April 10, 2019, Second Secretary Shintaro Ichiki attended the ceremony for the turnover of emergency vehicles and equipment from the City of Nanjo in Okinawa, Japan to the City of Victorias in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Also in attendance were Mayor Francis Frederick Peralta of Victorias City, Mayor Chobin Zukeran of Nanjo City, and Mr. Chochu Awa, Executive Director of NPO Lequio Wings.

The donation project amounting to approximately PHP 1.6 million (JPY 3,398,502) is funded through the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects of the Government of Japan. It has been implemented through the Non-Profit Organization Lequio Wings of Okinawa Prefecture where the donated vehicles and equipment originated from.

Given the limited capacity of the hospitals in Victorias City which can provide intensive emergency medical care, this project will benefit patients in need of transportation to other hospitals in neighboring cities, approximately more than 20 kilometers away. The project also includes first aid training for the emergency response staff of Victorias City. It is hoped that this will improve its emergency rescue and relief systems, particularly in the mountainous areas.

The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects started in the Philippines in 2002. Since then, the Japanese Government has made contracts for 50 projects in the Philippines under this scheme amounting to approximately 1.2 billion yen in total. Japan believes that this project will not only strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but will also bolster the existing strategic partnership between the two countries.