Ribbon Cutting and Unveiling Ceremony |
Donated Classrooms
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A turnover ceremony was held last March 11, 2016 for the “The Project for the Construction of Two Units One Storey Two Classroom Building for Patadon Elementary School in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.” The ceremony was attended by Mr. Hiroyuki Enoki, First Secretary and Labour Attaché of the Embassy of Japan (EOJ), Mr. Joseph Evangelista, City Mayor of Kidapawan, Dr. Kahar H. Macasayon Al Hadj., School Division Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd), Ms. Zayra Maguling, principal of Patadon Elementary School and other guests from City Government of Kidapawan and Parents and Teachers Association (PTA).
In FY2014, under J-BIRD (※), the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) provided assistance to City Government of Kidapawan amounting to Ninety Two Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty Five US Dollars (USD 92,785) or approximately Php 3.89 million. This project was conceptualized to address the shortage in the number of classrooms at Patadon Elementary School. For the past five (5) years the school experienced increased in the total number of enrolled students owing to the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) coming from the nearby conflict affected areas in Maguindanao and Cotabato.
The four (4) classrooms funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) is expected to accommodate a total of 180 students. Through this project, students will be given conducive environment for learning and encouraging them to finish their education.
The Government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of present, 513 grassroots projects have been funded by GGP.
(※) Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for confict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Develpoment). Their total amount is over 15 billion yen. Furthermore, when President Aquino made a state visit to Japan last June, Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, expressed at their summit meeting his support for efforts by the Government of the Philippines to secure enduring peace in Mindanao, and stated that the Government of Japan will promote the J-BIRD II (Note), in view of the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.
(Note: A new phase of the J-BIRD that will focus more on ensuring economic autonomy in the Bangsamoro Area).
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Japanese Version
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