DAVAO CITY – Second Secretary Takuhiro Watanabe attended the promotion activity last September 30, 2015 for “The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP)1 Promotion”. The activity was organized by the Embassy of Japan (EOJ) in partnership with the local NGOs. The event was attended by almost twenty six (26) participants and representatives from various Philippine NGOs in Davao and nearby areas.
In his opening address, Mr. Watanabe mentioned that EOJ has implemented 512 projects in Philippines under the GGP. He emphasized the significant participation of the Government of Japan with regard to promotion of socio-economic and development especially in the Mindanao areas since J-BIRD’s2 first implementation in 2006. J-BIRD will not be successful without the help and cooperation of the local partners, and the Embassyof Japan would like to continue the good relationships with them in promoting economic assistance.
The promotion was held to introduce and explain to all the participants more about GGP including the kind of projects the program supports and the process of application. At the end of the presentation, participants were given the chance to make clarifications and ask questions about GGP. Many of them have expressed their interest in GGP and want to improve the condition of their communities through this scheme. (Eagle News Service/Embassy of Japan)
1 The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) was established in 1989 to assist NGOs and local public authorities in developing countries in responding to various development needs in a prompt and complete manner, even though on a comparatively scale.
For more information about GGP / Japan’s ODA to the Philippines, please visit our website at: http://www.ph.emb-japan. go.jp/bilateral/oda/grassroots.html
2 Since 2006, Japan has been intensively implementing Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and other ODA projects for confict affected areas in Mindanao, collectively called J-BIRD (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Develpoment). Their total amount is over 15 billion yen. Furthermore, when President Aquino made a state visit to Japan last June, Japanese Prime Minister, Mr.Shinzo Abe, expressed at their summit meeting his support for efforts by the Government of the Philippines to secure enduring peace in Mindanao, and stated that the Government of Japan will promote the J-BIRD II (Note), in view of the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.
(Note: A new phase of the J-BIRD that will focus more on ensuring economic autonomy in the Bangsamoro Area.)