Village gets water supply grant from Japanese gov’t
MANGATAREM–Cacaoiten, a remote barangay located in the mountainous area near the boundary of Pangasinan and Tarlac, has been given a $33,516 grant by the Japanese government for the development of a water supply system.
The project willprovide 90 households or a population of 500 with access to potable water supply, thus lessening the incidence of water borne diseases.
Minister Akira Sugiyama, who came here Wednesday for the turn-over of the project to the local officials, said he feels proud that his government is able to help the barangay.
Sugiyaman said Japan considers water and sanitation as important components for development and a priority program under the Japanese Official Development Assistance policy.
“I hope this water system project will serve as a wellspring of friendship and cooperation between two people— Japanese and Filipinos,” Sugiyama said.
Barangay officials, led by Chairman Dominador Riparip, and some town officials expressed the town’s gratitude to the Japanese government.
Riparip said in compliance with the terms of the grant, they have formed a group that will be tasked to collect P1 a day per household beneficiary for the maintenance of the water supply system.
Cacaoiten, about 20 kilometers from the town proper, can only be reached through seven kilometers of rough road from the main highway. Public transport to the area is available only thrice a week.
Residents here, especially women and children, walk about two kilometers away to fetch potable water from deep wells.
The project is part of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects of the Embassy of Japan which currently has 52 similar projects around the country.
Within Pangasinan, this is the fifth, three of which are here in Mangatarem.
Honorary Consul General of Japan Carlos Teraoka, who lives in nearby Barangay Cabaloyan II, initiated the project for funding of the Japanese government. #
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