The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$ 372,437 for
1) The Project for Construction of Myauk Chaw Kone Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Daik-U Township, Bago Region (US$ 105,110) ;
2) The Project for Construction of Kone Waing Gyi Village Basic Education Post Primary School in Daik-U Township, Bago Region (US$ 131,506); and
3) The Project for Construction of Mee Taing Taw Village Bridge in Kyauk Kyi Township, Bago Region (US$ 135,821).

The handover ceremonies of two schools and one bridge for above-mentioned 3 projects took place in Daik-U and Kyauk Kyi Townships on 2 and 3 November 2018, respectively. Ms. Ayano SUZUKI, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, U Phone Myint Aung, Pyithu Hluttaw elected representative for Daik-U Consistency, U Myint Ngwe, Pyithu Hluttaw elected representative for Kyauk Kyi Consistency, Dr. Mya Thaung, Bago Region Amyothar Hluttaw elected representative for Consistency No.7, U Thura Zaw, Bago Region Hluttaw elected representative for Consistency No.2, committee chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

There are three school buildings in Myauk Chaw Kone Village Basic Education Branch Middle School. However, Building No.1 and a temporary hut seriously deteriorated and there were many holes on the roof and big gaps between wall panels. Therefore, students were exposed to rain and wind during their study. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan, under its GGP scheme, has provided funding for construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete building with 6 classrooms and full furniture. The project benefits 139 students of the school.

Similarly, one of the school buildings in Kone Waing Gyi Village Basic Education Post Primary School decayed since it had been built with fragile and old materials in 1975. However, students had to study there due to the lack of school building. In addition, students from 4 grades were studying in 2 congested classrooms in a temporary hut. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan, under its GGP scheme, has provided funding for construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete building with 8 classrooms and full furniture. The project benefits 138 students of the school.

The old wooden bridge in Mee Taing Taw Village had been used by 265 motorbikes, 120 bicycles and over 700 pedestrians daily. However, as it seriously deteriorated and was not passable for trucks and cars, the villagers faced difficulties to access to the nearest town for transferring emergency patients to hospitals and students to schools and transporting agricultural products. In order to tackle these issues, the Government of Japan, under its GGP scheme, has provided funding for construction of a 108.5-meter-long, 4.2-meter-wide Steel Girder bridge with approach roads. The project benefits 6,048 residents of 5 surrounding villages.

The Government of Japan has assisted 866 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 435 education projects, 201 healthcare projects, 140 public welfare and environment projects, 55 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is expected that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.