Officials of the Philippines and Japan signed a grant contract for “The Project for Providing Emergency Vehicles for the Typhoon-Affected Areas in the Philippines” Thursday.
The Japanese embassy said 20 vehicles – 17 firetrucks and three ambulances – for areas damaged by Yolanda are to arrive at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in early November.
Signing the agreement were Japan chargés d’affaires to the Philippines Tetsuro Amano and Bureau of Fire Protection head Chief Superintendent Carlito Romero.
The grant involves $202,760 (P8.5 million) and is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
Last May 5, the project was initially announced when a delegation led by Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians’ Friendship League president Kenji Kosaka met with Senate President Franklin Drilon, President of Philippines-Japan Parliamentary Association (PJPA) in Manila.
“It is part of Japan’s additional donation to the Philippines of previously-used 20 emergency vehicles (17 firetrucks and three ambulances) intended primarily for the municipalities seriously damaged by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in Central Visayas,” the Japanese embassy said.
The Japanese government, the top Official Development Assistance donor for the Philippines, launched the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help communities engaged in grassroots activities.
At least 499 grassroots projects have been funded by GGP.
“Japan believes that this project will not only strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also contribute to further fostering a strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines toward the future,” the embassy said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
