Department of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro, together with Schools Division Superintendent Corazon M. Gonzales, and Principal Imelda Caro, accepts the symbolic key during the Turn-over Ceremony of a two-storey, ten classroom building for Maria Clara High School funded under the Embassy of Japan's Grant Assi s tance for Grassroots Human Security Projects or GGP.
His Excellency Toshinao Urabe delivers his speech in the Turn-over Ceremony. The Ambassador invited Maria Clara High School to own up to the project. He said, “to make the project a success, everyone has to pitch in.. Each of you have a role to play, you are responsible in making this new building useful for yourself so that it helps build a better society.”
T he Ribbon Cutting at the the Turn-over Ceremony for Maria Clara High School (MCHS) , from left to right, Dr. Luz A. Almeda,
Director of DepEd-NCR , Department of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro , Hon. Mary Mitzi Gajayon, Representative,
2nd District of Caloocan , Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri, His Excellency Toshinao Urabe and Councilor Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri.
Teachers and Students, particularly first and second year students, benefit on the newly constructed two-storey, ten classroom building for Maria Clara High School (MCHS) under the Embassy of Japan's Grant Assi s tance for Grassroots Human Security Project or GGP.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe attended the turnover ceremony of “t he Project for Construction of a School Building for Maria Clara High School ” last 25 July 2012 in Barangay 108, Grace Park, Caloocan City.
Department of Education (DepED) Secretary Armin A. Luistro, Honorable Ms. Mary Mitzi “Mitch” L. Cajayon, Representative of the 2nd District of Caloocan City , Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri, Councilor Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri, Schools Division Superintendent of Caloocan Corazon M. Gonzales, Maria Clara Principal Imelda Caro, School and Parent-Teachers Association Officials, and students witnessed the ceremony. The project, the cost of which amount s to US$208,219 (approximately 9 million pesos), wa s funded through the Embassy of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) . The project consists of the construction of a two-storey, ten-classroom school building with provisions for chair desk s for students , and desk s and chairs for teachers .
In his message, Ambassador Urabe emphasized that education was the key to inclusive growth. He mentioned that the Philippine Government and the Japan ese Government wa s on the same page in providing education that empowers individuals. He invited Maria Clara High School to own up to the project. “To make the project a success, everyone has to pitch in… Each of you have a role to play, you are responsible in making this new building useful for yourself so that it helps build a better society.”
Maria Clara High School is situated in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, one of the densely populated areas in the Philippines, and has faced an annual increase in the number of students since its establishment in 2000. As such, the school has been experiencing classroom shortage and congestion. Prior to this project, the school had only 15 classrooms, which forced school officials to implement a two-shift schedule system and conduct classes in auxiliary rooms such as the school's library, audio-visual room, science laboratory and stage, which obstructs quality education for students.
It is expected that with the assistance from the Japanese Government, the learning environment for around 2, 600 students will improve and contribute to the enhancement of the public education system in the country.
On 30 July, 2012, Maria Clara High School is expected to receive a group of 10 high school students and a teacher of Nikaido High School in Japan under JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange Students and Youths) program. The group will have cultural and educational exchange activity with the students of Maria Clara High School.
The Government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the GGP in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of July 2012, 468 grassroot s 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$ 22.5 Million. Japan believes that this project will strengthen not only friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also the existing strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines.
Japanese Version
