Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura congratulates Panabo City Mayor Jose Dela Luz Silvosa Sr. after signing the grant contract for “The Project for the Acquisition of Garbage Compactors for Panabo City” on March 3, 2010 at the Embassy of Japan. Photo also shows the officials of Panabo City and Embassy of Japan. |
Japanese Ambassador Makoto Ka ts ura and Panabo City Mayor Jose Dela Luz Silvosa Sr. signed a grant contract for “ The Project for the Acquisition of Garbage Compactors for Panabo City ” at the Embassy of Japan on March 3, 2010. The project is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects ( GGP ) with a grant amounting to US$52,74 8 (approximately 2.4 million pesos ).
Panabo City is located in the Province of Davao del Norte and has a population of 150,000. It has thrived into an important trading post for agricultural and industrial sectors, and has facilitated smooth business transactions of investors. In recent years, the development and rapid urbanization of the city has led to the influx of workers from surrounding areas. As a result, Panabo City faces the increase of population, and needs to deal with new challenges in providing basic services for increasing residents. One of these challenges is to establish an effective garbage collection system. Now, the city has only two trucks for garbage collection while the whole city generates about 67 tons of garbage every day. The regular garbage collection is conducted only for two major markets in the city, and the collection in residential areas is irregular. Residents have to bear with bad odor from accumulating wastes, and the concern for sanitation has been emerging.
To cope with these circumstances, Panabo City decided to seek assistance from the Embassy of Japan. Under this project, the city will be provided with a donation consisting of three garbage compactors from Osaka City in Japan. The Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy (SPJD), a Japanese association which renders international cooperation and advocates global issues in Japan, supports Panabo City in the reconditioning of the vehicles including the conversion from right-hand to left-hand drive, and the transportation of vehicles from Japan to Panabo City . The Embassy of Japan will assist the expenses for these conversion and transportation. With the addition of three garbage compactors, the city's garbage collection will be more efficient and regular, which will provide better sanitation and improved environment for the residents.
The GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of December 2009, more than 400 grassroots projects funded by GGP – ranging from roughly 1 to 4 million pesos – have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations. The total grant for these projects so far amounts to US$17,418,724.
Japanese Version
