Japanese ambassador turns over bldg to NGO

CEBU, Philippines -  Japanese Ambassador to the Philippine Toshinao Urabe arrived in Mandaue City the other day to turn over a building constructed under a Japanese grant to a non-government organization (NGO).

The building will serve marginalized children and their families.

Assisting the Japanese ambassador during the ribbon cutting ceremony were Lolita Ganapin, executive director of Bidlisiw, Dr. Christopher Samson, member of the board  of trustees, and Jamaal Calipayan, executive secretary of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

The P3.9 million three-story building in barangay Looc is operated by the Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc., an NGO established in 1989.

Pamela Uy, the deputy director of the organization  said the ground floor area can accommodate 100 out-of-school youth enrolled in Alternative Learning System (ALS), while the second floor will house the livelihood coordinating center for mothers and a counseling room for victims of abuses.

The third floor will serve as a clinic.

The organization opens a half-day medical clinic for free and gives medicines without charge every Saturday.

 Uy said her organization works with the city government of Mandaue through the City Social Welfare and Services.

The project was funded by the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.

Uy said the organization found the name of the donor in the website and submitted a project proposal after which they received a positive reply. (FREEMAN)