HIS EXCELLENCY SECRETARY ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO ;
HONORABLE GOVERNOR JOSE SALCEDA;
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
It is a great honor for me to sign these Notes with His Excellency Secretary Albert F. del Rosario. This is the second of such notes in less than two months. I am pleased, because such facts show how close our two countries are.
Japan and the Philippines share many characteristics. The bad news is that we are disaster-prone. The good news is that Japan understands the hardship of the Filipinos, that is why we have long forged partnership in the field of disaster management . As we have seen during the great tsunami which hit Japan last March, we cannot prevent disasters. The key is to anticipate and prepare ourselves as well as react right away when disasters happen.
Th is grant aid aims to construct and rehabilitate schools. In ordinary times, it will create a better learning environment and give a better chance to the children of Albay. At the same time, when disasters caused by typhoons and mudflow strike, it will provide evacuation shelters. By killing two birds with one stone, we are making maximum use of our funds.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere wish that this project will give a better chance for prosperity and safety to the people of Albay and serve as a model for other disaster-prone areas of the Philippines.
Thank you very much for your attention.
|
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines