Ilocos Norte farmers get over US$46K refrigerated truck grant from Japan

BAGUIO CITY (December 18, 2024) – The Embassy of Japan handed out a US$46,244 (approximately P2.6 million) grant to small farmers from the Bacarra Multi-Purpose Cooperative, to buy a refrigerated truck for the cooperative’s farmer-members Tuesday.

Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Second Secretary NISHIMURA Tokiko himself attended the turnover ceremony for “The Project for the Provision of a Refrigerated Delivery Truck for Small-scale Farmers in Ilocos Norte” in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte’s capital.

Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Vice-Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, Bacarra Sangguniang Bayan Chairman on Agriculture Jonathan Sagario, Bacarra Multi-Purpose Cooperative Chairperson Primrose Manglal-lan, and the farmers of Ilocos Norte graced the turn-over rites that could spell huge benefits to the province’s agriculture.

Majority of residents in Ilocos Norte engage in agriculture as their main source of income.  But small scale farmers grapple with the dual burden of high demand and escalating logistical costs, the Japanese Embassy acknowledged.   Lacking their own transportation, small farmers often resort to renting vehicles or rely on intermediaries, posing not only risks the quality of their fresh produce but can also lead to delays and unpaid incomes.

Ms. Nishimura told farmer-beneficiaries of the grant that she hopes that the use of the truck will significantly improve the farmers’ incomes and that they would become a role model for others to follow.

Japan is the top ODA donor to the Philippines, and this year marks the 70th anniversary of ODA.

The Government of Japan launched the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities.

According to the Japanese Embassy, there are 564 grassroots projects that have been implemented by the GGP at present.  “Japan believes that these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries,” Ms. Nishumura stressed.