Mayon Volcano
MANILA, Philippines—The Japanese government has handed to the province of Albay a 739-million yen (P398 million) grant for the construction and rehabilitation of schools in disaster-prone areas in the province.
The Japanese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Minister Motohiko Kato, is set to visit Albay this week to lead groundbreaking ceremonies for Japan’s Project for Evacuation Shelter Construction in Disaster Vulnerable Areas.
“The project seeks to strengthen growth and development in the region by enhancing disaster prevention and education facilities simultaneously for the people of Albay,” the embassy said in a statement.
Under the project, Japan will fund up to P398 million to construct more classrooms and refurbish existing schools in Albay, one of the country’s most vulnerable provinces that faces typhoon devastation, landslides and volcanic activity every year.
The grant aid, signed last year by the Japanese government with the local government of Albay, aims to increase the number of schools that may be used as evacuation shelters in times of disasters and also refurbish existing structures.
“The Province of Albay has always been a disaster-prone area, often plagued by pyroclastic flow caused by eruptions of Mayon Volcano and mud flow and floods caused by frequent typhoons,” said the Japanese Embassy.
“Under this project, the targeted facilities will be used as evacuation shelters to secure evacuees in times of disaster and will also be used as classrooms to provide students with safe and comfortable learning environment,” the Embassy said.
The project continues long-standing cooperation between the two countries in terms of disaster mitigation. Itself a disaster-prone nation, Japan is one of the largest grant aid donors to the Philippines.