HONORABLE SAIDALI LITIGAN
Vice- Mayor, Municipality of Paglat
MAJOR GENERAL REYNALDO SEALANA
Chairman, GRP Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities
MAJOR GENERAL Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah
Head of Mission, International Monitoring Team
MR. TOKS EBRAHIM
Chairman, MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities
BARANGAY CAPTAIN GULIDTEM ALI
Barangay Captain, Kakal
MR. ALBANA BAOD
Department of Education District Supervisor, Municipality of Paglat
Ms. KIYOKO TAKAHASHI
Program Officer, Oxfam Japan
Teachers and Students
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen:
Assalamu Alay Kum. (Peace be with you.)
It is a great honor for me to join you all on this occasion of the turnover ceremony. I would like to thank all the participants of this project, including Japanese NGO, Oxfam Japan for the successful completion.
Through this project, three (3) school buildings with six (6) classrooms have been constructed for Kakal Elementary School. I would like to encourage students to study harder under the improved learning environment and, in the future, contribute to the development of this region. In addition, training was provided for the parents, teachers, and community associations (PTCA) of the Kakal Elementary School and Salam Elementary School. I hope the PTCA will make the most of the outcome of the training and work together for children.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention Japan's assistance policy for Mindanao. The Government of Japan is committed to contributing to the peace and development efforts in Mindanao through the Japan–Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development or the J–BIRD. Since the J-BIRD was launched in 2006, various economic cooperation projects have been implemented to enhance the lives of people in this region.
This project is also part of the J-BIRD and I would like to highlight that this project is the first one to be implemented by a Japanese NGO under the J–BIRD. Many thanks to Oxfam Japan for doing the terrific job.
Let me also mention Japan's contribution to the International Monitoring Team or IMT. Japan has contributed to the peace process through the dispatch of social development experts to the IMT. One of the experts is Mr. Tomonori Kikuchi who is here with us today.
In closing, I hope that through our concerted actions and the ARMM government's efforts, the people of Mindanao will achieve the peace and prosperity that they deserve.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines