16 December 2014 - The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe, the Hyogo Prefecture Fundraising Committee for the Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, and the Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO) signed an Agreement on the Implementation of the Recovery Support Project of Disaster-resistant Housing on December 09. The agreement worth JY15,677,591 is expected to benefit 800 households in the municipalities of Capoocan and Leyte, in the Province of Leyte, Philippines. The Hyogo Prefecture selected the project upon the recommendation of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) from a list of projects submitted by Japanese non-government humanitarian organization for Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan victims.
Hyogo Governor Fundraising Committee Chairman for the Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013 Toshizo Ido noted that the signing of the agreement was an opportune moment in the face of Typhoon Ruby/Hagupit ravaging the Philippines and Hyogo’s marking of the 20th year in January 2015 of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that left Kobe utterly devastated.
The Governor stated that the people of Hyogo have also experienced destructions from typhoons and shares the sentiments of the victims. He called the “handmade reconstruction” of the houses in Capoocan and Leyte to be “unique” and expressed his hope that the houses will withstand future typhoons.
Philippine Consul General Maria Teresa L. Taguiang, in her response expressed her thanks to the Government of Japan for its immediate expression of solidarity to the people of the Philippines and its speedy and efficient assistance when Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013.
The Consul General also stated that the just signed agreement marks the beginning of the implementation of the Hyogo Prefecture assistance fund which will not only rehabilitate houses, but also help rebuild lives.
Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO) Chairperson Satoyo Ono mentioned that NICCO has dispatched a staff to Capoocan for the research while she will join the ground team on the 14th to implement the project, She added that housing experts and professional carpenters specialized in construction skill of wooden/ timber building will soon follow as the purpose of the project is not just to donate materials but to share experiences, knowledge, technical skills and friendship.
Hyogo Prefecture and Consulate General officials witnessed the signing of the agreement. END