Pura, Tarlac — The Japanese government officially turned over a new school building to Maungib Elementary School on Monday, replacing a dilapidated structure that had been plagued by severe termite damage and structural decay.

Mukaigawa Yurie, second secretary and grant officer, and Suzuki Yuki, first secretary and labor attaché of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, led the turnover ceremony for the one-story, six-classroom facility in this Tarlac province municipality.

The project was funded through a P4,472,960 grant under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. The funding covered the construction of the classrooms and accompanying restrooms to provide a safer environment for students and faculty.

The school’s previous main building suffered extensive termite damage across its columns, ceiling, and structural trusses, which school officials said posed a high risk of collapse.

The old structure also had cracked, sinking concrete floorboards and holes throughout the roof.

Pura Mayor John Paul Balmores expressed gratitude to the Japanese Embassy, calling the collaboration a testament to the strong friendship between Japan and the Philippines. Balmores also credited Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Abegel Pagatpatan for serving as the primary coordinator to secure the development grant.

The inauguration featured a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and a celebration of Tanabata, the Japanese star festival, across the six new classrooms.

During the event, Japanese diplomats joined students in tying written wishes on colorful paper to bamboo plants placed inside the rooms.

The grant program is a flexible financial assistance scheme operated under Japan’s Official Development Assistance program, designed to support small-scale development initiatives that di