Japan signs grant aid for Bohol water, sanitation project

The Embassy of Japan has signed a grant contract with Japanese non-governmental organization Ikaw-Ako to support the third phase of a safe water supply and sanitary education project in Bohol.

In a statement released Friday, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya confirmed the grant—totaling $149,612 (approximately P8.5 million)—will fund the project titled "The Construction of Rainwater Tanks to Provide Safe Water Supply and Sanitary Education to Prevent Infectious Diseases in Bohol with Frequent Droughts." The initiative falls under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects.

The project aims to address the region’s limited access to safe water by constructing rainwater harvesting systems that leverage Bohol’s geographical conditions and high rainfall.

“Many residents in Bohol continue to face difficulties accessing safe water due to the limited presence of large rivers and the underdevelopment of water supply infrastructure,” the statement noted. It added that the initiative will also introduce a sustainable maintenance and management system, alongside sanitary education programs for rural communities to safeguard public health.

Since the program’s launch in the Philippines in 2002, the Japanese government has provided more than 2 billion yen (over P785 million) to fund 68 projects through this assistance scheme.

“Japan believes these projects not only strengthen the bond between the Filipino and Japanese people but also reinforce the strategic partnership between our two nations,” the embassy said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News