THE CONSULATE General of Japan in Davao and the Banowaon, Manobo, Talaandig (Bamata) Tribal Council, Inc. signed a grant contract for “The Project for the Construction of Training Center for Bamata Community in Agusan del Sur.”
The grant, amounting to USD 62,560 or approximately P3.53 million, aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the Banowaon, Manobo, and Talaandig Indigenous communities by providing a facility for skills training and capacity-building activities.
Consul General Yoshihisa Ishikawa and Bamata Tribal Council president Balvino Andaya Formalized the agreement in a ceremony held on Oct. 14, 2024.
This initiative, part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), seeks to address illiteracy and socio-economic challenges faced by the IP communities in geographically isolated areas.
The new training center will serve as a hub for education, empowerment, and cultural preservation.
Consul General Ishikawa expressed his hope that the project will contribute to improving the socio-economic conditions of the Bamata communities, fostering self-reliance, and preserving their unique cultural heritage.
He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting grassroots development projects that empower marginalized communities in the Philippines.
