Turnover Ceremony for “The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Santo Niño High School in Talibon, Bohol”

On February 16, 2023, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines turned over a one-storey-four classroom building and furniture to the Municipality of Talibon under “The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Santo Niño High School in Talibon, Bohol.” Approved in FY 2017, the project is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).
 
Upon the Philippine’s implementation of its K to 12 Basic Education Program in 2016, which extended secondary level education from four years to six years, public schools were mandated to set up additional classrooms for the newly added senior high school program (Grades 11 and 12). However, many schools have not been able to meet the requirements due to budgetary restraints. This has led students such as those of Santo Niño High School either to transfer to other schools in a far location or to give up on their education upon completion of the 10^th grade.   
 
To address the issue, the Embassy of Japan has provided a grant amount of USD 88,108 or approximately PHP 4.3 million¹ to the Municipal Government of Talibon. The grant covered the construction of one-storey-four classroom building and the procurement of classroom furniture such as tables and chairs, with the hope of enabling students of Santo Niño High School to complete their senior high school years.
 
The ceremonial turnover was led by Second Secretary SUGIMOTO Kensuke of the Embassy of Japan, along with Talibon Mayor Janette Aurestila-Garcia, Department of Education Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez, other Department of Education and LGU officials, school teachers and select students of Santo Niño High School. In his message during the ceremony, Second Secretary SUGIMOTO reiterated that basic education is a right for all children and lauded the community’s efforts in providing a quality-learning environment for the children. He also expressed his hope that the new classrooms would serve as a key, opening more doors of opportunities for the students.  
 
As the top ODA donor for the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities. At present, 553 grassroots projects have been implemented by the GGP. Japan believes that these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries.
 

Note 1: Grant Amount: USD 88,108;  Dollar Rate 1 USD = PHP 49.3 (as of June 2, 2017)