Turnover held of Japan-funded production and marketing of non-wood charcoal facility

August 17, 2017

A turnover ceremony for “The Project for the Production and Marketing of “Clean and Green” (non-wood) Charcoal” was held on August 14 in Baggao, Cagayan Valley, the Japanese Embassy said in a statement Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by Kenji Terada, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan; Leonardo Pattung, mayor of the municipality of Baggao; Sister Merceditas Ang, SPC (Sister’s of St. Paul Chartres), President of St. Paul University Philippines, and other guests from the University.

In 2015, Under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), the Embassy of Japan provided assistance to St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) amounting to Seventy Thousand Seven Hundred Eighteen US Dollars ($ 70,718) or approximately three million pesos for the establishment of facility for the production of corn cob based charcoal, installation of machineries and equipment and procurement of mini-truck for hauling purposes.

Agricultural waste such as corn-cob can be developed as an alternative and effective source of raw material.  This project is to facilitate and utilize the agricultural waste, and will lead to prevent rampant cutting of trees or illegal deforestation for the production of wood-based charcoal which causes the vanishing of the environment and natural resources in Cagayan.

Through this GGP project, SPUP will provide the technical training assistance on new technology in charcoal production, livelihood as well as entrepreneurial skills development.  The project will help at least 5,750 farmers and households in Baggao to raise their income.  Furthermore, it will contribute to the environmental preservation in the province and the entire region.

The Government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities.

At present, 525 grassroots projects have been implemented by GGP.  Japan believes that this project will not only strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines but also contribute in sustaining strategic partnership between the two countries. DMS