Mabalacat City Mayor Geld Aquino led a meeting with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines to discuss the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Program and possible collaborations for community development initiatives in the city.
During the meeting, Mayor Aquino expressed support for programs aimed at strengthening community development and enhancing social welfare services, particularly for children, youth, and other vulnerable sectors in Mabalacat City.
The JICA Philippines delegation was headed by Kato Makoto, together with Lara Javier and Lyr Paruhinog.
The delegation also visited facilities under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), including the Kanlungan Drop-In Center and Santungan Bahay Pag-asa.
Officials discussed the program’s goal of deploying Japanese professionals and volunteers to various communities to support sustainable development initiatives, human security programs, and capacity-building efforts for partner institutions.
Among the areas that may be covered under the program are social welfare services, youth development, public health, nutrition, elderly care, occupational therapy, tourism, marketing, and sports development.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to explore potential partnerships and collaborations that could further strengthen the programs and services of the CSWDO for children, youth, and other vulnerable sectors in Mabalacat City.
