The community of Bayanga Norte Elementary School in Maguindanao can now benefit from the construction of two new classroom buildings funded through the Japanese government's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP). This allows more students to study in a safe environment and spend less time commuting.

Originally established in 1983, Bayanga Norte Elementary School is a public elementary school in Barangay Bayanga Norte, Matanog, Maguindanao. The school's dilapidated classrooms were regarded unsafe for students. It also did not have additional space for expansion to accommodate the increasing number of students, and many students had to walk 2 to 4 hours to get to the school.

To address these issues, the Embassy of Japan provided a grant amount of USD 169,645 or approximately PHP 8.9 million to the Municipal Government of Matanog through GGP. The grant covered the construction of classroom buildings at a new location nearer to the center of the community.

"We sincerely hope you will fully avail the opportunity to grow your potential in the new learning environment," Consul General of Japan in Davao Ishikawa Yoshihisa said to the students and teachers.

'We hope this project will be another testimony to the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Japan and the Philippines towards a bright future. Please rest assured that the Embassy of Japan and the Consulate-General of Japan in Davao will continue to remain deeply committed to supporting peace and development in Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines.'

The turnover ceremony was also attended by First Secretary Okada Fumiaki of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, together with Matanog Municipal Mayor Zohriah Bansil-Guro, other LGU officials, Department of Education officials, teachers, selected students, and parents.

As the top Official Development Assistance (ODA) donor for the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help communities engage in grassroots activities. Especially in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, Japan has been intensively implementing GGP and other ODA projects since 2006 to support peace and development in Mindanao as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD), with the total amount exceeding USD 200 million.