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Japan turns over charcoal facility in Cagayan

By Leslie Gatpolintan

August 18, 2017, 10:24 pm

MANILA -- The government of Japan is funding a project to help over 5,750 farmers and households in Baggao, Cagayan  to raise their income through charcoal production without resorting to environmentally destructive activities.

Japan turned over this week its Production and Marketing of “Clean and Green” (non-wood) Charcoal” facility in the municipality.

The ceremony was attended by Kenji Terada, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan; Baggao Mayor Leonardo Pattung; and St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) president, Sister Merceditas Ang, Sister’s of St. Paul Chartres.

Under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), SPUP will provide the technical training assistance on new technology in charcoal production, livelihood as well as entrepreneurial skills development. 

The project aims to facilitate and utilize the agricultural waste and will lead to prevent rampant cutting of trees or illegal deforestation for the production of wood-based charcoal which causes the vanishing of the environment and natural resources in Cagayan.

Agricultural waste such as corn cob can be developed as an alternative and effective source of raw material. 

Under the GGP, the Embassy of Japan in 2015 provided USD 70,718 (around PHP3 million) assistance to SPUP for the establishment of facility for the production of corn cob-based charcoal, installation of machineries and equipment and procurement of mini-truck for hauling purposes.

The government of Japan, as the top official development assistance (ODA) donor for the Philippines, launched the GGP in the Philippines in 1989 intended to reduce poverty and help various communities engaged in grassroots activities. 

At present, 525 grassroots projects have been implemented by GGP.  (PNA)

 

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