THE Japanese funded classrooms in Negros Occidental was turned over on Tuesday (Aug 23) in time for the face to face classes.

Third Secretary Yamada Yumi of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, together with La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla G. Nicor-Mangilimutan, and officials of the Department of Education, attended the turnover ceremony for “The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Don Felix Robles Elementary School in La Castellana, Negros Occidental” amounting to USD 81,122, or approximately PHP 4.1 million.

The project, which will benefit more than 1,800 students, was first approved in 2019. It is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).

The Don Felix Robles Elementary School is one of the largest elementary schools in La Castellana.Due to classroom shortage and the dilapidated state of some of its facilities, the school cannot provide a proper learning environment for its students. The faculty room and the school clinic were also used as temporary classrooms as a measure for the shortage.

To address this issue, the Embassy of Japan provided a grant to the Municipal Government of La Castellana. It covers the construction of a one-storey, four-classroom building for the said school.

On behalf of Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko of the Embassy of Japan, Yamada delivered and expressed joy that the timely project will be able to provide a safe learning environment for the students as the school year starts.

As the top ODA donor to the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities.

At present, GGP has implemented 553 grassroots projects. Japan believes these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries.

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Cristina Lee-Pisco