Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura congratulates Municipal Mayor Lionel Echavez Bacaltos after signing the grant contract for “The Project for Construction and Renovation of Classrooms at Manatad Elementary School” on March 16, 2010 at the Embassy of Japan. The ceremony was also attended by the officials from the Municipality of Sibonga and the Embassy of Japan. |
Japanese Ambassador Makoto Ka ts ura and Sibonga Municipal Mayor Lionel Echavez Bacaltos signed the grant contract for “The Project for Construction and Renovation of Classrooms at Manatad Elementary School” at the Embassy of Japan on March 16, 2010. The project, amounting to US$ 92,934 (approximately 4.2 million pesos), is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects ( GGP ).
In the Municipality of Sibonga, Cebu, there are 22 public elementary schools, which are managed by the Department of Education and supported by the Municipal Government. Among the schools, the Manatad Elementary School, whose buildings were constructed in 1970s, is located in the remotest part of the municipality. The elementary school is in urgent need of assistance because the buildings are old and dilapidated now, and the school compound is often flooded in rainy seasons by torrential rain. Students have difficulties in concentrating on their study in buildings with cracked flooring and broken roofs, and endure the frequent interruption of classes caused by the flooding.
Under these circumstances, the Municipal Government of Sibonga sought the assistance from the Embassy of Japan to support the construction of a five-classroom building and the renovation of three classrooms as well as the provision of armchairs for students and teachers' tables and chairs. With this project, 321 students will benefit from an improved learning environment.
GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots level 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
