Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa signed the 5 grant contracts at the Alnor Hotel & Convention Center in Cotabato City on March 14, 2016 between each representative of respective recipient organizations for various social development projects in Mindanao. The ceremony was attended by Sec. Senen Bacani, Member of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with Moro Islamic Liberation, Commissioner Abdulla Camlian of The Bangsamoro Transition Commission, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, Chairman of Bangsamoro Development Authority and so forth.
These projects, the total amount of US$ 480,598 (approximately 20 million pesos), are funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) implemented by the Embassy of Japan as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) ( ※).
Since the launch of J-BIRD in 2006, Japan has supported 87 GGP projects in the total amount of 7.67 million US dollars. Including these new projects, Japan’s assistance toward Mindanao has reached over 200 million dollars under J-BIRD initiative. Japan believes that these projects described below will strengthen not only friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also the existing strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines.
Also 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 which is a new phase of the J-BIRD that will focus more on ensuring economic autonomy in the Bangsamaro Area in view of the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.
In his message, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa emphasized that Japan will continue to support the effort for the peace and stability in Mindanao through development assistance such as J-BIRD.
It is expected that the new package of assistance will support peace and development in Mindanao.
(※) Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for conflict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development). Their total amount is over 200 million dollars. 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.
《 Projects for FY2015 》
1. The Project for the Procurement of Equipment and Construction of Postharvest Facilities for the Farmers of the Municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao
Amount of Grant: US$ 94,973 (approximately 3.9 million pesos)
Name of Proponent: Lower Riverside Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(Project Summary)
Ampatuan is an agriculture municipality which is heavily dependent on its rice and corn industry. However, farmers are faced with problems such as low productivity of those crops coupled with high cost of production associated with high rental fees of pre and postharvest machineries and equipment. With this, farmers are left on the losing end with very small income.
(About the Proponent)
Lower Riverside Multi-purpose Cooperative (LRFMPC) is an accredited cooperative in the Municipality of Ampatuan of which members are mostly farmers involve in rice and corn production. For the past years, LRFMPC are engaged in providing loan to their members at minimal interest rate to help them in their farming business. They also provided tolling services for their postharvest facilities to further improve not only their members’ productivity and income but also other farmers in Ampatuan. In 2011, an armed conflict happened in Ampatuan. This incident resulted to destruction of the cooperative’s office building and postharvest machineries, thus, temporarily stop their services to the farmers. This situation caused difficulty to the farmers as the cost for the rental of the equipment in their municipality is high.
(About the GGP)
GGP assistance will be provided for construction of one (1) unit warehouse and one (1) unit solar dryer including procurement of one (1) unit tractor, two (2) units corn sheller, one (1) unit sledge tiller, one (1) unit power tiller and one (1) unit rice thresher. The project is expected to improve crop productivity, efficiency of farm work and livelihood income for the benefit of the 1,400 farmers in the Municipality of Ampatuan in Maguindanao, through LRFMPC. The project is expected to increase the production of rice and corn thus, improving the livelihood and increasing the income of the farmers in the area.
2. The Project for the Provision of Agriculture Farm Tractor for Small and Marginalized Bangsamoro Farmers in Lanao del Norte
Amount of Grant: US$ 79,659 (approximately 3.3 million pesos)
Name of Proponent: Lanao Intercultural Convergence for Development and Peace, Inc.
(Project Summary)
Municipality of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte has a long history of armed conflict. The community was caught between the armed clashes which caused damages in their facilities, displacement of the residents and disruption of their normal lives. Among the victims who were greatly affected when the conflict broke are the small and marginalized farmers who were forced to leave their homes and sell their properties and farm animals. Even after the conflicts, Bangsamoro farmers were still faced with problems due to the sudden decrease in the population of farm animals. Furthermore, open area for cultivation remained idle and unproductive since the farmers are left with no working capital.
(About the Proponent)
Lanao Intercultural Convergence for Development and Peace, Inc. (LICDPI) has a track record in serving the Muslim Maranaos and Christians displaced during conflict by implementing projects funded by international donors and national agencies such as core shelter units, food and medical relief assistance, agriculture, infrastructure projects and peace seminars.
(About the GGP)
GGP assistance will be provided, through LICDP, for the construction of a tractor garage and procurement of one (1) heavy duty farm tractor (108 HP Kubota Tractor) complete with accessories such as disc plow, trail harrow and pull cart to facilitate tillage of 250 to 400 hectares of underdeveloped and unproductive farmlands. The project is expected to improve crop productivity, efficiency of farm work and livelihood income to 300 poor and marginalized Bangsamoro farmers and their families in former conflict-affected municipalities in Lanao del Norte.
3. The Project for the Reconstruction of Classrooms for Al Azhaire Academy in Cotabato, Maguindanao
Amount of Grant: US$ 101,494 (approximately 4.2 million pesos)
Name of Proponent: Al-Amanah Humanitarian and Development Services, Inc.
(Project Summary)
Al Azhaire Academy was established with four classrooms in 2009. The school tried to provide the additional classrooms to compensate the growing population of the school for the past five years. However, some of the classrooms were made of light materials (makeshift) and the partitions of the classrooms are either curtains or plywood. Also, the existing facilities in the school are already old and dilapidated with broken ceiling. During rainy season, water starts dripping from the ceiling down to the walls. In these situations, classes are suspended.
(About the Proponent)
Al-Amanah Humanitarian and Development Services Inc. is a Non-Government Organization (NGO), created to promote socio-economic activities in communities affected by armed conflict in Mindanao. Their programs and projects are focused on the conduct of capacity building activities, provision of basic services and livelihood programs to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and others individuals affected by war.
(About the GGP)
The assistance provided under GGP includes the construction of a two (2) storey six (6) classroom building for Al Azhaire Academy. It aims to replace the dilapidated and makeshift classrooms to ensure safety and stability as well as provide conducive learning environment to 1,037 students and teachers of the said school. This project will be implemented through the Al-Amanah Humanitarian and Development Services Inc.
4. The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Bayugan National Comprehensive High School in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur
Amount of Grant: US$ 102,333 (approximately 4.2 million pesos)
Name of Proponent: Philam Foundation, Inc.
(Project Summary)
Bayugan National Comprehensive High School (BNCHS) is the only public school in Bayugan that offers special program and courses which interest a lot of students. To date, there are about 6,000 students enrolled in BNCHS and over the years, enrollment rate has increased which caused congestion in the school. Currently, there are 93 classrooms in BNCHS with an average classroom-student ratio of 1:60 which is beyond the standard 1:50 ratio set by the Department of Education. Also, out of the 93 classrooms in BNCHS, 25 classrooms are either dilapidated or makeshift. With this situation, students are forced to have classes under worse learning environment.
(About the Proponent)
Philam Foundation, Inc. is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philam Group of Companies. The foundation bears its flagship program, Philam Paaralan, which aims to address the shortage in classrooms on the country’s public education system.
(About the GGP)
GGP assistance will be provided, through Philam Foundation, Inc, for the construction of one (1) unit 3-classroom and one (1) unit 2-classroom school buildings in Bayugan National Comprehensive High School with comfort rooms and procurement of school furniture such as armchairs, blackboards and teacher’s chairs and tables. The project aims to reduce poverty in the area and provide quality and healthy education for the 6,219 students and teachers of Bayugan National Comprehensive High School.
5. Construction of One (1)-Unit, Five (5)-Elevated Classroom School Building at Kalbugan Elementary School
Amount of Grant: US$ 102,139 (approximately 4.2 million pesos)
Name of Proponent: Mindanao Children’s Library Foundation, Inc.
(Project Summary)
Pagalungan is a Muslim area with a high poverty incidence of 67.7% which is manifested by the delays in infrastructure development. In fact, 95% of the municipality has no electricity. There are also no appropriate water and sewage systems in the area.
Kalbugan Elementary School is the only primary school located at Barangay Kalbugan in Pagalungan. At present, the school has a shortage in academic classrooms. Also, their existing rooms are already old and dilapidated. Because the current number of rooms in the school is not enough, other students hold their classes at the school stage. Worse, during rainy season, all classes are suspended due to the high floods and mud that enter the rooms. Frequent flooding during this season damages the school building’s doors, floors and chairs.
(About the Proponent)
To complement the efforts of the Local Government Unit in improving the education sector in Pagalungan, non-government organizations (NGOs) like Mindandao Children’s Library Foundation, Inc. also extend support to these schools. MCL is an NGO dedicated in helping the less privileged children and as an organization, they have a wide array of experiences in implementing educational programs and services in Mindanao.
(About the GGP)
GGP assistance will be provided for the construction of one (1)-Unit, five (5)-elevated classroom school building (with toilets in each room) and procurement of school equipment and fixtures for Kalbugan Elementary School, through MCL. The project aims to provide quality and healthy education to the 213 students and teachers of Kalbugan Elementary School.
1. Lower Riverside Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative |
2. Lanao Intercultural Convergence for
Development and Peace, Inc. |
3. Al-Amanah Humanitarian and Development
Services, Inc. |
4. Philam Foundation, Inc.
|
5. Mindanao Children’s Library Foundation, Inc. |
|
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Japanese Version
