MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Japan continue to provide support to Marawi to increase economic opportunities for vulnerable groups, especially women and youth.

Through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), administered by the ADB, a women's economic hub and youth center was constructed inside the Mindanao State University Marawi campus to serve as the trading hub of products made by women and youth.

"On top of emergency employment, we also did our best to restore sustainable livelihood and quality education opportunities. This is in recognition of the fact that in the process of rehabilitation, in hope of recovery, we needed to make sure that the people of Marawi stand as one, neglecting no one from affected communities, especially women and children," said Sho Tabata who represented the Japan Embassy during the inauguration and turnover of the Raheemah Economic Hub and Youth Development Center.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic posed some challenges to the swift implementation of Marawi rehabilitation, Tabata conveyed that they are still thankful that their partners from the Philippine government and other organizations remain steadfast in bringing the project to fruition. 

"With our combined efforts, we are beyond positive that the JFPR will continue to serve its purpose in this country and make a lasting impact on the lives of many," he added.

ADB's Rikard Elfving, on the other hand, was proud of the completed hub and looks forward to its impact on the lives of the women and youth who will be using the said facility.

He said ADB usually works with big infrastructure projects that cost a lot, but in Marawi, they have shown that they can do so much with lesser funds.

"I will bring the message back home to my leaders, my Director General, and my country, and tell them about this enormous and powerful project that we have on the ground. It’s not always the volume that counts, it’s the impact that you can have on the community. For me, this sends a very strong signal that you can do a lot with little funds," he further said.

Aside from the Raheemah economic hub, the two foreign visitors also joined the inauguration of the two-storey classroom building in Angoyao National Highschool likewise funded by JFPR and ADB with Save the Children Philippines as its implementing partner. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)