Japan-funded school building launched in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Japan’s P2 million worth school building project in Barangay Kibleg in North Upi, Maguindanao had significantly addressed the shortage of classrooms in the campus where it was constructed, education officials said Wednesday.

The building, constructed using funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was jointly launched on Monday by Japanese dignitaries, the chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Muhaquer Iqbal and North Upi municipal officials.

The newly-launched school building in Kibleg Elementary School, which is located in Barangay Kibleg southeast of North Upi, now houses kindergarten and first grade school pupils.

Faculty members said Wednesday the construction of the new building had addressed the shortage of classrooms in the school, whose pupils are mostly ethnic Teduray children from surrounding peasant enclaves.

JICA’s president, Akihiko Tanaka, on Monday told reporters the building was one of their Quick Impact Projects (QIP) in Mindanao, all designed to complement the socio-economic agenda of the Southern peace process.

Japan has been helping push the government-MILF peace initiatives forward. It is also helping monitor the enforcement of a ceasefire pact between national security forces and the rebel group since 2003 through its representatives to the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.

North Upi Mayor Piang on Wednesday said he is thankful to JICA for embarking on the school building project.

John Magno, regional education secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said he is just as grateful to JICA too.

“We ought to thank JICA for this endeavor,” Magno said.