Through the assistance of CIWEST Foundation Chairman – Mr. Takashi Miyamoto , the two (2) Councilors of Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture in Japan: Councilor Atushi Iwase and Councilor Hironobu Maeda visited the Philippines on April 15, 2008.

Councilor Iwase's foremost projects are into Port Businesses while Councilor Maeda's current interest are the prospective businesses or ventures for the Philippines , therefore, their main purpose is to acquire knowledge concerning their main projects as City Councilors in Japan to another country like the Philippines.

PURPOSE OF THIS OBSERVATION

The reason to decide the Philippines as our observation study is that, after World War II, Japan and Philippines have experienced the similar fate as if the twin brothers, thus, we wish to learn and understand the reason of the two countries made such difference in past 60 years. In detail, we would contact with the local board of councils and the mayor and inspect Agricultural and Industrial areas, and the port cities just like Mikawa-wan (port) in order to find the solutions for the reduction of industrial circle and problem with the lack of self-sustenance.

THE OBSERVED SUBJECTS

•  Human resource Exchange Group

Aimed at the lifestyle of inclusion with the foreigners, we have been accepting the foreign human resource from the aligned countries in the name of “Training and Intern System”. Thus, we wished to inspect the sending group and to seek the appropriate methods of accepting the laborers.

•  The Local Government and Industrial Area

To inspect the local working environment, attraction to the industries, preparation as a port city, way to deal with both civic and industrial inflation, conditions of the foreign capital progress including one from Japan, and the economical Incentives in Philippines.

•  Agricultural Area

To inspect the production of the crop using the advantages of the local geography, condition of the cooperation of agriculture with the Industries, and the progressing condition of the national aid for the agriculture.

•  The Places Historically Related to Japan

For 400 year long, a suzerain power had colonized Philippines, and Philippines had related to our country deeply for the geographical and political factors after World War II. Especially, right before the end of WWII, Philippines was use as the base of Japanese operation and the several unfortunate incidents had taken place by the Japanese military towards people in the Philippines. At the same time, five hundred thousands of Japanese soldiers died by the battles. However, now a day, the memory of the tragedies in WWII has been lessened by time, and the memorial monuments have remained as the tourist attractions. Since Japan is called to be a non-natural resource country, as a part of cultivation of tour resort and improving the diplomatic relation with the neighboring country

 

April 15 (Tuesday)

•  Courtesy Call with the Tanauan City Legislative Body Vice-Mayor Julius Platon and City Councilors

They have discussed their distinctive roles as government officials of the two countries. After the discussion, Tanauan City officials dine together with the two Councilors and Mr. Miyamoto at the Japanese Restaurant (Lima City Hotel)

April 16 (Wednesday)

Morning

•  Visitation to Day Care Centers (Developed and Donated by CIWEST Foundation)

•  Courtesy Call/Meeting with Mayor Danilo Sombrano of Mataasnakahoy, Batangas

Afternoon

•  Courtesy Call/Meeting with Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha of Batangas City

•  Visitation to Agriculture Section, through the assistance of Dr. Loyola C. Bagui, DVM – City Veterinarian, Office of the City Veterinarian and Agricultural Services (Bolbok, Batangas City)

•  Visitation to Batangas City Port and Economic Zone Area

 

April 17 (Thursday)

•  At the Mataasnakahoy, Batangas, the Toyohashi City Councilors had a good opportunity to witness and to experience one of the Philippine cultures - Marriage Ceremony.

60 percent of the locals cannot afford to have a ceremony because of the lack of money. In the Philippines, the Mayor of a City or Town has the power to conduct a wedding ceremony.

 

April 18 (Friday)

•  The Toyohashi City Councilors inspected the newly built high way introduced by Mr. ruperto rodriguez - Vice President of Ayukatsu Philippines. This high way was built by the aid of Japanese ODA. Actually, Mr. Rodriguez was trained for building in Iida City, Nagano, Japan by using the training system (STTP TESDA-JITCo SCHEME).

The Final visitation for this Observation trip was a Waste Facility in Manila. Even though the Councilors already heard about the problems of insufficient size of the land and increase in the amount in waste, it was the one of their high interest to check such place.

They have observed that there is a bad public security in the city. There was a pile of garbage about 2km. long and 10m. high that they had been introduced as the facility. The Councilors also obseved that the garbage was just reclaimed directly without any actual sorting works or segragation. Upon looking at the site, they have concluded that they should contemplate on how they can reduce the amount of waste and appropriate ways to deal with the waste

 

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