07th September, 2017 The Government of Japan and the Folaha Village Water Committee celebrated the handover of their Upgraded Water Supply System funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, GGP on Tuesday afternoon, 5 September 2017.
His Excellency Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga congratulated the completion of the Project during a handover ceremony held at the water supply site in Folaha village. Hon. Penisimani Fifta, Minister for Education and Training attended the handover ceremony along with Mrs. Natalia Palu Latu, Deputy CEO, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Executive Members of the Folaha Village Development Council, Town Officer and the people of Folaha.
In the keynote address, H.E Mr. Yukio Numata stated that the aim of Japan’s GGP is “to encourage sustainable development and overcome vulnerabilities at the grass-roots level in order to strengthen targets for achieving Human Security.”
“We recognize the fact that access to clean and plentiful water is vital for human’s everyday life and its scarcity poses danger over the community, leading to many problems such as severe health issues. ” emphasized the Ambassador, and expressed his joy that a new water supply system had been installed supplying the village people with clean and plentiful water, replacing the deteriorating water supply system installed in 1995.
Hon. Penisimani Fifita on behalf of the people of Folaha village and the government of Tonga thanked H.E Mr. Yukio Numata for Japan’s support aiming at improving the physical infrastructure and providing better living standard for Folaha residents. “The equipment will certainly help improve the reliability of the Village’s water supply system as well as the quality of the water, which will contribute significantly towards improving the health of the Village community in a sustainable way,” he said. He also assured that the people of Folaha will do their best to operate and maintain the equipment effectively to benefit more generations to come.
Folaha Village Water Committee sought for Japan’s assistance in 2016 to upgrade a deteriorating water supply system installed in 1995. Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects was introduced in 1990 to respond to various development needs in developing countries, and to date have granted over 270 projects in different sectors throughout Tonga. The assistance epitomize Japan’s commitment to support efforts by the People and the Government of Tonga to achieve its National Strategic Planning Framework, and also hope to strengthen the warm and close relations between the people and the Government of Japan and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Attachment: Project Factsheet & Photos
Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP)
Project Fact Sheet
ENDS
For further enquires please contact: Ms. Hitomi Obata, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Tonga. Level 5, National Reserve Bank of Tonga Building / Telephone: 22-221 / Fax 27-025