On February 12, 2013, Minister for Economic affairs of the Embassy of Japan, Akio Isomata, will attend the turnover ceremony of “the Extension Plan for Pineda-Gutierrez Elementary School” in Angeles City, Pampanga Province . The project, amounting to US$ 107,645 (approximately 4.5 million pesos), is funded by the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects, a grant funding program of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and has been implemented by the Japanese NGO Aichi Rescue.
Pineda-Gutierrez Elementary School used to ha ve only 8 classrooms, while about 700 pre-school and elementary school students attend the school . The shortage of classrooms has led to congestion in the classrooms as well as reduced class hours due to a two-shift schedule. In addition, the school used to have only one toilet.
Under the project, a two -story building with 4 classroom s has been constructed for Pineda-Gutierrez Elementary School . Along with the building, 1 8 0 arm chair desk s , blackboards, desks and chairs for teachers have been provided, and 4 toilets have also been installed . Th is project will address the growing concern over classroom congestion and will provide the students with an improved learning environment.
The construction of the new school building was helped by more than 50 Japanese volunteers, who are university students in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where Aichi Rescue is based. The volunteers also joined exchange activities with the local community during their stay.
The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects started in the Philippines in 2002. Since then, the Japanese Government has disbursed approximately 186 million pesos for a total of 31 projects in the Philippines under the scheme. 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.
