AFTER the backbreaking documentation and thorough proposal process, the Municipal Government of
Valencial was chosen as one of the recipients of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security
Projects (GGP) for calendar year 2023. The grant in the amount of approximately P5.2M will fund the
construction of a one-story four-classroom high school building in barangay Anoyon.
Mayor Dionisio Neil Balite signed the contract with Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the Japan Information and Culture Center Hall, Embassy of Japan in Pasay City. Project adviser, Ms. Flordelia Balite-Fernandez, and project focal staff, Ms. Vanessa Coronel also witnessed the ceremony.
In his speech, Ambassador Koshikawa assured that Japan remains a strategic and devoted partner to the
Philippines in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, and highlighted the unique impact of GGP to
directly empower local communities through projects that tailor-fit to the evolving needs of the people.
Undersecretary of School Infrastructure and Facilities of the Department of Education, Hon. Epimaco V.
Densing III also graced the said ceremony, and in his speech, emphasized the shortage of classrooms
nationwide, and how the GGP Grant can make a difference in addressing the alarming situation.
On the day prior to the signing, December 5, the GGP team of the Economic Section of the Embassy of
Japan gave a project orientation seminar focused on project execution and implementation to three
members of the municipal government of Valencia, namely, Municipal Engineer, Engr. Niño Salvacion,
Accounting Clerk, Ms. Kristine Gilot, and Ms. Coronel.
This school year, there are already 65 Gr 7, 30 Gr 8, 30 Gr 9, and 30 Gr 10 students in Anoyon. In his thankyou speech, Mayor Neil underscored the importance of the additional schoolbuilding in alleviating the current congestion in the two high schools in Valencia. Anoyon High School is almost equidistant from these two high schools located in the Poblacion and barangay Omjon.
Japan is the top ODA donor for the Philippines. The GGP scheme was launched by the Government of
Japan in the Philippines in 1989 to provide facilities and equipment for education, health, agriculture and capacity building, geared towards reducing poverty and satisfying diverse needs at the grassroots level.
Together with the project for the municipal government of Valencia, there was also a project for the
acquisition of an ambulance in Sipocot, Camarines Sur. The third project was for the provision of portable chest x-ray machine for the Aeta people in Zambales.
To date, there have already been 560 grassroots projects approved and implemented by the GGP. Japan
believes that these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and
contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries.
The application process which included site visits in Anoyon, Valencia by project officers and staff from the Embassy of Japan took approximately eleven months.
Mayor Neil expressed to the people of Japan through Ambassador Koshikawa the sincere gratitude of the townspeople of Valencia, especially the people in Anoyon and the adjacent barangays who will benefit from the project, by presenting Resolution No. 400, Series of 2023 issued by the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Valencia. The said resolution declared that every 6th of December shall be celebrated as Japan Day in Valencia, in honor of the friendship and goodwill between the people of Valencia and the people of Japan, and to enhance the understanding of young Valencianhons of Japan and its people.
During this annual celebration, students of Valencia shall participate in various activities and delve into
Japanese cultural heritage specially on arts, crafts, music, dance, and social customs. There will be lectures about Japan, first-hand sharing of experiences with teachers, college students and young professionals who had studied, worked and lived in Japan, and contests in manga illustration, karaoke and Japanese food preparation.
BARUG VALENCIA, you deserve more!
