22 January 2004 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today lauded  the government of Japan for funding the construction of a Women’s Center in Marawi City through its Grant for Assistance for Grassroots Project (GAGP) under the country’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program.

“The setting up of a Women’s Center will not only help empower Muslim women in both family and community affairs but would, through the promotion of gender sensitivity and equality, increase their participation in mainstream society.  The center will undoubtedly help mold our Muslim women to become more productive
co-partners of men and, in so doing, assist in the uplifting of the economic conditions of the community where they live,” Secretary Albert said.

"Yesterday, I was in Davao for the Annual Conference of the Mindanao Commission on Women where I met with the women leaders of Mindanao.  Through my interaction with them, I could see and I believe that these women will be the hope of Mindanao.  I thank the Japanese government for helping fund the Center because
this will certainly contribute to a better future for them,” the Secretary said.
 
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kojiro Takano and Ms. Yasmin Busran-Lao, Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation, Inc. (AMDFI), a non-government organization (NGO), signed the grant contract at the Japanese Embassy on 13 January 2004.

The Women’s Center aims to provide counseling and health services for Muslim women in Lanao del Sur as well as give seminars and training to enhance their capabilities on local governance, reproductive health, peace education and livelihood.

The two-story center, which will have rooms for training workshops, counseling and trauma debriefing, a clinic, and display corner for the finished livelihood products for women beneficiaries, can hold up to 100 participants at a time.
 
Japan’s GAGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities.  Since then, 306 small-scale grassroots projects, ranging in cost from P 1 to 4 million, have been implemented by NGOs, local government units, and other non-profit organizations.  This is the fifteenth GAGP project to be financed by the Embassy of Japan for the year 2003. - END