LUMBATAN, Lanao del Sur - Residents in this secluded town are expected to benefit from the P7.630 million state-of-the-art eight-classroom two-storey school building that was completed through the funding of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governance. ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) manager Nasser Sinarimbo, and Naoyuki Ochiai of the Japan Embassy in the Philippines, turned over the administration of the building to Mayor Mamintal Razuman in what the latter described as "simple yet joyous" ceremonies here on March 5. "The successful construction of the building at the Andong National High School here was an 'enormous dream fulfilled' for this town where student enrolment rises yearly but the number of school buildings virtually remained stagnant," Razuman said. The ambiance in the new school building "will hopefully stimulate continuous search for knowledge among our children in this municipality," he said. "I fervently pray that our noble intentions will further be realized, particularly our vision to produce educated community towards progress," he added. Sinarimbo said the construction of the modern school building was funded by the JICA, which was recorded as the latest of 33 completed infrastructure projects under the strategic regional infrastructure (SRI) component of the ASFP. The ASFP is the conduit to the ARMM of foreign donor and creditor-agencies implementing various forms of projects in the autonomous region. During the turnover rites, Ochiai said that it is an honor for the government and people of Japan to support efforts in providing better educational facilities to the region. Ochiai urged the students of the Andong National High School to study harder under such improved learning environment to help contribute to the development of the ARMM. He also affirmed Japan's commitment to peace and development efforts in Mindanao through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).
Since 2006, the J-BIRD has been implementing various economic cooperation projects to improve the lives of the constituents of the region. A day after the turnover rites here, Sinarimbo and his staff conducted in Marawi City a two-day orientation for local government units (LGUs) of Lanao del Sur, educating participants on the thrusts and plans of the ASFP, which lately has earned for ARMM "satisfactory" ratings from the JICA, the World Bank, and other foreign donor-institutions. Sinarimbo said the orientation was necessary for the LGUs in playing their roles as main stakeholders in ASFP projects, especially in the implementation of target projects under the $30 million additional financing from the World Bank. The new World Bank financial package was approved in 2010 and will be implemented starting this month for 596 more villages in the ARMM that have not benefited from the past trance of projects funded by the multi-nation bank. ARMM acting Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong graced the orientation activity where he reiterated his staunch policy on "transparent, consultative, and moral governance."
