Japan gov’t turns over $4.5-M municipal hall project

Japan has turned over a $4.55-million Marabut Municipal Hall project to the Philippine government as part of its Program for the Rehabilitation and Recovery from Typhoon "Yolanda" in 2013.

“Through this program, Japan helps the Philippines build a resilient society against natural disasters and achieve sustainable growth,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement on Friday, June 8.

The Japanese Embassy explained that the program provides assistance for recovery and reconstruction in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda and focuses on social infrastructure such as healthcare facilities, schools and local government offices; economic infrastructure such as airport, common industrial facilities and power facilities; and disaster preparedness infrastructure such as meteorological radar systems.

A fifth class and coastal municipality, Marabut was one of the hardest hit areas in Samar when Super Typhoon Yolanda, or internationally named Typhoon "Haiyan", made a landfall on November 3, 2013, leaving at least 6,300 people dead.

Representatives of the beneficiaries in Marabut led by Mayor Elizabeth Ortillo and Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Judy Batulan expressed their appreciation to the Japanese government who were represented by Embassy Second Secretary Shintaro Ichiki and Yoshio Wada of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Being a top Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) donor and a disaster-prone country as well, Japan has supported the Philippines disaster mitigation efforts by sharing its experiences and lessons learned from past natural disasters.

Under its “Build Back Better” policy, the Embassy said the program is expected to further foster the strategic partnership between the two countries and serve as a model for other disaster-prone areas of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda joined President Rodrigo Duterte in the ceremonial switching of the coal-fired Unit 3 power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon last week.

The Embassy said the plant’s construction started in December 2014 under a joint venture of Tokyo Electric Power Company and Marubeni Corporation, with Aboitiz Power Corporation, a major holding company in the power sector in the Philippines.