Despite the huge problems with its economy and the aftermath of the killer earthquake and tsunami that hit parts of the country this year, Japan has kept its promise of continued support for its development projects in the Philippines with over P435 million in fresh aid to its southern neighbor.
The funds will go to the construction of emergency evacuation centers in Albay, a human resource training center in Cotabato City, and new classrooms in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, according to the Japanese Embassy.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario thanked Tokyo for its “generous and timely aid” to Manila.
Del Rosario noted that “disaster preparedness and response is one of the key areas of Philippines-Japan bilateral cooperation.”
With funding of nearly 740 million yen (about P398 million), the project “involves the construction of emergency evacuation centers within the premises of Libon Community College, Polangui North Central School, Oas South Central School, Sto. Domingo Central School and Gogon Elementary School,” all in Albay province.
“In the absence of calamities or emergencies, the shelters can serve as educational facilities,” according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe said, “The province of Albay has always been a disaster-prone area, often plagued by pyroclastic flows due to eruptions of Mayon Volcano and mudflow and floods caused by frequent typhoons.”
Urabe said that “under this project, the facilities would be used as evacuation shelters in times of disaster and will also be used as classrooms to provide students with a safe and comfortable learning environment.”
Urabe pointed out that Japan “has supported the Philippines’ disaster mitigation efforts by sharing its experiences and lessons learned from past natural disasters.”
“This project reaffirms the continued commitment of Japan to extend cooperation in minimizing threats of disaster,” he said.
Japan has also set aside P28.8 million for the construction of the Japan-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Friendship Hall and Training Center in Cotabato City and another P8.4 million for a school building at Libungan Torreta Elementary and High School in Pigcawayan town.
Early this year, Tokyo extended nearly 41 billion yen (about P21.4 billion) in official development assistance (ODA) for the improvement of Philippine arterial roads.