Japan gives $1.5M for relocation

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a grant of $1.5 million (around P64.5 million) from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to BayaniJuan sa Southville 7, the 107-hectare relocation site comanaged by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) in support of the Pasig River rehabilitation.

Signing the letter of agreement were ADB Southeast Asia Department Director General Kunio Senga, NHA General Manager Chito Cruz and AFI Managing Director Gina Lopez. Witnesses were Vice President Jejomar Binay and Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe.

The grant provides for the expansion of multisectoral partnerships between NHA and AFI; funds for electrification; the use of e-trikes and solar grids; and finances community initiatives, livelihood and enterprise development.

The NHA is the executive agency of the grant while AFI is the implementing agency.

BayaniJuan  currently houses close to 6,000 families from the Estero de Paco, Pasig and Marikina in Calauan, Laguna.

Houses, schools, a livelihood center, health clinic, market and other community amenities such as children’s playgrounds and daycare centers had been constructed by AFI with help from Habitat for Humanity, Ayala Group, Lopez Group, Sunlife, San Miguel Corp., DMCI and SM.

The Diocese of San Pablo, Don Bosco and the Calauan local government are active partners in community development.

The grant will highlight multisectoral partnership in a poor community, which will be replicated in six other communities in the coming years.