Japan extends grant to Cebu project

Japan, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GAGP) program, extended a grant worth $34,058 for the construction of a multi-purpose building for women handicraft workers in Lower Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu.

The proposed structure will provide the BAHI Association (a women’s group engaged in making handicraft, including hair accessories and hand-made paper cards with Monaco threads) with proper production, quality-control, storage, and research and development facilities. While serving as a BAHI-products showcase and warehouse, which will help the group meet the growing demand for its goods, this building will be used to conduct craft-making and gender seminars for other interested organizations.

Women affected and displaced by rapid urbanization and land conversion in Talisay organized the association in 1992. After recognizing the role of women in home-based enterprises, the members have promoted self-help and reliance efforts by engaging in handicraft production, training and education, animal dispersal, and the provision of social welfare services. In response to market growth, and to assist women who ordinarily would not have the opportunity to improve their earning capacity, the new structure is being funded to increase home-based and in-house production.

Japanese Ambassador Yoshihisa Ara and BAHI Association project manager Gemma G. Subaldo signed the grant contract for this undertaking at the Embassy of Japan in Pasay City on Nov. 29, 2001.

For purposes of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaging in grassroots activities, Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects program was launched in the Philippines in 1989. Since then 253 smalle-scale grassroots projects – ranging in cost from roughly $20,000 to $80,000 – have been implemented by NGOs, LGUs, and other non-profit organizations. This year, the Embassy of Japan has announced seven projects to be financed, including this BAHI Association project.