ELEVEN water sub-projects were completed in Mindanao following a three-year partnership between Japan and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“This may be the last of our 11 water system sub-projects with the ILO, but the assistance of the people of Japan to the Bangsamoro region will not end here. We are determined to keep our active contributions going until we see a very peaceful and progressive region that the Bangsamoro people truly deserve,” Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in a statement.
The program is the ILO-Japan Water and Sanitation Project signed in 2019 and funded by Japan. Beneficiaries of the water project are estimated at nearly 12,000 households in remote areas of Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
“Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, what matters is the immeasurable and lasting impact of the project to the people. The project not only provided potable water but also a decent source of income during the pandemic,” Mr. Koshikawa said.
On April 5, a level II ground source electric water pump system in Tenorio, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao was turned over to the local government.
This sub-project in Tenorio also includes a treatment facility and four tap-stands.
The facility serves around 70 households of mostly indigenous families, retired military personnel and other residents. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
