Japan funds P18.5-M projects for Bohol waste management, Palawan fisheries
MANILA – The Japanese government has signed grant agreements worth USD318,098 (around PHP18.5 million) to support solid waste management in Bohol and fisheries development for an Indigenous community in Palawan.
In a statement on Thursday, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said Ambassador Endo Kazuya formalized the agreements under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) during a ceremony held at his residence in Makati City.
Endo emphasized Japan’s continuing commitment as a reliable partner of the Philippines, noting that cooperation between the two countries is built on mutual respect and shared development goals. He also highlighted the GGP program’s flexibility in addressing the specific needs of local communities while helping empower future generations.
The first project, valued at USD243,055 (about PHP14 million), will provide two garbage compactors to the municipality of Ubay in Bohol.
Local officials said Ubay has been experiencing rising waste generation due to rapid population growth. However, garbage collection remains limited because of insufficient and aging equipment. Of the town’s three garbage trucks, one is no longer operational, while the other two have been in service for over a decade, allowing the collection of only around 10 percent of the municipality’s total waste, mainly from areas near the town center.
The new compactors, each capable of carrying up to 3.6 tons of waste, are expected to expand waste collection services to remote areas and improve sanitation for roughly 80,000 residents across 44 barangays.
The second project, worth USD75,043 (approximately PHP4.38 million), will support fisheries-related livelihood activities for an Indigenous community in Taytay, Palawan.
The grant was awarded to the UCCP-SLJA Integrated Development Program for Indigenous People in Southern Tagalog (IDLIP-ST), which provides livelihood and capacity-building support to Indigenous Peoples engaged in fishing, aquaculture, gleaning, and tourism-related work.
Community facilities, including the Tribal House and Seaweed Farmhouse, have deteriorated due to natural disasters and are no longer usable, affecting the residents’ economic activities.
Under the project, a new Tribal Hall and Seaweed Farmhouse will be constructed, and the community will receive two tricycles and four banca boats to help support their livelihood and mobility.
Launched in the Philippines in 1989, the GGP program funds small-scale development initiatives that directly benefit grassroots communities and contribute to local socio-economic progress.
With the signing of the two new projects, Japan has now supported a total of 569 grassroots initiatives in the Philippines through the GGP program.
Japanese officials expressed hope that these projects will further strengthen Philippines-Japan relations and deepen strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Present during the signing ceremony were Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Jacqueline Caancan, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mimaropa Regional Director Roberto Abrera, Palawan 1st District Representative Rosalie Salvame, Taytay Mayor Norbert Lim, and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Executive Director Teodoro Jose Matta.
NPO News Team | Philippines News Agency – PR
