Japan helps rebuild Masbate, Agusan Sur schools

MANILA, Philippines—The Japanese government has given a grant for the construction and renovation of classrooms in the provinces of Masbate and Agusan del Sur.

The projects, with a combined cost of $211,401 (P9.1 million), will be funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

Around 2,000 students in both provinces will benefit, said the Embassy of Japan in a statement posted on its website Friday.

The government of Japan, as the top ODA (Official Development Assistance) donor to the Philippines, launched the GGP in the country in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping communities engage in grassroots activities.

As of October 2011, 453 grassroots projects funded by the GGP had been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other nonprofit organizations. Total grant for these projects so far is $20,943,230.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe signed the contracts for the construction and renovation of the schools in Masbate and Agusan del Sur.

The two provinces are on the list of the top ten poorest in the country. In 2009, National Statistical and Coordination Board statistics showed the poverty incidence in Masbate and Agusan del Sur at 42.5 percent and 51.2 percent, respectively.

In Milagros town, Masbate, John Miller Elementary School and Magsalangi Elementary School are in urgent need of assistance. John Miller uses dilapidated and makeshift classrooms to accommodate its growing number of students, while Magsalangi, established in 1937 and considered the oldest school in town, has classrooms that should be condemned and which pose a serious threat to the students.

The embassy said that under the grant, $113,190 (P4.8 million) will be used to construct four classrooms at John Miller and three classrooms at Magsalangi.

The classrooms will come with desk chairs, blackboards, teacher’s tables and chairs. The municipal government of Milagros will also repair seven classrooms in both schools.

In Talacogon town, Agusan del Sur, the Talacogon Central Elementary School, established in 1934, is considered the oldest school in the locality. It is the only school in the municipality with a Special Education (Sped) program for poor students.

Due to the school’s age, students are forced to hold classes in dilapidated classrooms. The rising enrollment results in a classroom shortage forcing the students to use non-academic rooms such as a library and stockroom for their classes.

With a grant of $98,211 (approximately P4.3 million), the school will be able to construct a new fully furnished six-classroom building, the Japanese embassy said.