Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura congratulates Ms. Alice Relativo of the Ladies of Charity, Inc.-Sorsogon Unit after signing the grant contract for the Project for the Improvement of the Facility for Senior Citizens in the Province of Sorsogon on January 27, 2011 at the Embassy of Japan. The ceremony was witnessed by the officers of the Ladies of Charity, Inc.-Sorsogon Unit and the Embassy of Japan.
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Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and Ms. Alice Relativo, President of the Ladies of Charity, Inc.-Sorsogon Unit signed the grant contract for “The Project for the Improvement of Facility for Senior Citizens in the Province of Sorsogon” on January 27, 2011 at the Embassy of Japan. The project, amounting to US$76,102 (approximately 3.4 million pesos), is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects ( GGP ) of the Government of Japan .
In 1951, the Sisters of Charity and the Bishop of Sorsogon opened the Home for the Aged in Sorsogon City , and afterwards, the management of the facility was turned over to the Ladies of Charity, Inc.-Sorsogon Unit. T he facility has provided residential care, spiritual and counseling services, recreational, health and funeral services for the abandoned or neglected elderly.
Having been hit by several typhoons , the buildings of the Home for the Aged are now old and dilapidated , and no longer conducive to a safe, decent and comfortable living for the residing elderly beneficiaries , in particular during the rainy seasons when the roof leak s , making the floors wet and posing danger to the residents. The Ladies of Charity cannot meet request to accommodate more elderly people now.
Given the difficult condition s of the beneficiaries of the Home for the Aged, the Ladies of Charity sought the assistance of the Embassy of Japan to support the improvement of the existing facility. Through the project, the Ladies of Charity will construct a Male Quarters and renovate the existing Female Quarter so that they can accommodate about 30 abandoned and neglected elderly people . It is expected that the elderly will have a better living environment in the newly-constructed facilities. Japan believes that this project will not only strengthen friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also contribute to fostering a strategic partnership between the two countries towards the future.
Japan, as the top donor of the official development assistance for the Philippines , launched G GP in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of March 20 10 , 434 grassroots projects funded by GGP – ranging from roughly 1 to 4 million pesos – have been implemented by NGO s , local government units and other non-profit organizations. The total grant for these projects so far amounts to US$ 18,982,775 . –end-
Japanese Version
