‘Piloti’ itinayo sa Leyte bilang proteksyon sa bagyo

Itinayo  sa Tanauan, Leyte ang dalawang palapag na “Piloti,” isang klase ng processing plant na makatutulong upang makaiwas sa pagsalanta ng malakas na bagyo. Pinondohan ang naturang proyekto ng Embahada ng Japan sa Pilipinas sa ilalim ng Japan Official Development Assistance program.

“The facility is constructed of reinforced concrete in two-story “piloti” type architecture. Pilotis or piers are ground supporting columns that raise a building above ground level. This piloti feature will be useful and prevent damage during storm surges. The facility will enhance the quality of life of Tanauan fisher-folks, reduce their losses and give added value to the processed seafood products,” pahayag ng Embahada ng Japan.

Nagdaos ng turnover ceremony ang Embahada na dinaluhan nina Embassy of Japan’s First Secretary Kenji Terada, JICA Headquarters’ Sectional Representative Atsutoshi Hirabayashi, JICA Philippines Office’s Sectional Representative Yoshiyuki Ueno, Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’s Regional Director Juan Albaladejo, Department of Science and Technology’s Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla, at 50 mangingisda mula sa Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Ang proyektong ito ay bahagi ng “Quick Impact Project for Typhoon Yolanda Affected Areas.”

“The Grass-root Technical Cooperation Project on ‘Development of mariculture and processed products using Oku-Matsushima techniques in typhoon Yolanda affected areas’ will complement this project and provide technology development in aquaculture, processing, marketing and capacity building. 

“Though these projects, we look forward to seeing a pilot site of good quality seafood products, and hope this endeavor will expand all over the Philippines,” dagdag pa ng Embahada.

'Balik Nampeidai' idinaos

Ni Florenda Corpuz

Kuha ni Din Eugenio

TOKYO, Japan – Muling iwinagayway ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa dating embahada nito sa Nampeidai-machi, Shibuya noong Hunyo 1 kasunod ng pag-anunsiyo ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sa matagumpay na pagbawi sa Nampeidai property.

Naganap ang makasaysayang pangyayari matapos maglabas ng injunction ang Court of Appeals (CA) sa kahilingan nila DFA Sec. Albert Del Rosario, DOF Sec. Cesar Purisima, Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez at Bids and Awards Committee for Nampeidai Property Development Project Chairman Carlo Carag para itigil ang implementasyon ng kontrata na pinirmahan sa pagitan ng pamahalaang Arroyo at Nagayama Taisei Corp. (NTC), ang Japanese consortium na nanalo sa bidding para sa development project ng Nampeidai property noong Oktubre 2005.

“Accordingly, let a writ of injunction issued effective immediately, enjoining the court a quo, its agents and all persons acting for and on its behalf, from implementing the assailed orders dated 17 February 2012 and 02 April 2012, as well as the writ of execution of 02 April 2012,” pahayag ng CA.

Nag-alok ang NTC na magtayo ng ¥1.7-billion halaga ng gusali sa Nampeidai property at bayaran ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ng karagdagang ¥480-million sa ilalim ng build-operate-transfer agreement.

Samantala, inihayag din ni Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez ang kanyang kagalakan sa isang simpleng seremonya na tinawag na “Balik-Nampeidai” na inorganisa ng Philippine Embassy.

“I never thought that in my tenure here that I could ever see Nampeidai fly the Philippine flag once again. And now it flies so proudly that when it was being raised I got goose bumps,” madamdaming pahayag ni Ambassador Lopez sa harap ng mga panauhing opisyal, abogado at community leaders mula Pilipinas at Japan.

Nauna nang nag-isyu ang CA ng 60-day temporary restraining order kontra sa writ of execution na inilabas ng Pasay Regional Trial Court na pumapabor kay Masahiro Nagayama ng Nagayama Taisei Corp (NTC).

Matatandaang kinansela ng DOF noong Hunyo 2009 ang kasunduan matapos mapatunayang peke ang mga dokumentong isinumite ng NTC sa bidding process.

Ang Nampeidai property ay isa sa apat na lupain na pag-aari ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa Japan kabilang ang 4,500-square meter Fujimi property sa Tokyo, ang 764-square meter property sa Naniwa-cho at 3,014-square meter property sa Obanoyama-cho na parehong nasa Kobe. Ito ay bahagi ng reparations ng Japan noong World War II.

Sa ngayon, hindi pa batid kung ano ang gagawin sa Nampeidai property.