Japanese village in Davao to create local employment

TOKYO, Japan - A top official of the Japan-Philippines Volunteer Association, a non-government organization, will meet with a Davao City-based businessman on Sept. 1 to start preparations for the building of a Japanese Retirement Village that is expected to generate employment for the Dabawenyos.

JPVA president Rev. Masataka Ajiro, a Buddhist priest in Japan, bared this to Sun.Star Davao yesterday on the sideline of his meeting with Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku president Ines P. Mallari.

Ajiro said JPVA will promote Davao City and the new retirement village for Japan's elderly sector since institutions caring for elders here are already congested.

Businessman John Gaisano will build the facility which is projected as a health and wellness center for short and long stayers from Japan.

"Davao's new retirement village will be a good place for Japanese who seek to retire, especially those who have been displaced by the earthquake and tsunami tragedies last year in Fukushima since they are no longer allowed to return there," Ajiro said.

Manpower like caregivers, guides and interpreters will be provided by MKD and other graduates of Davao City-based universities.

The Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, meanwhile, will jumpstart the forming of a community equipped with modern physical health and wellness center, restaurant, cafe and convenience store within the facility that Gaisano will build near SM City Davao in Ecoland, Quimpo Boulevard, Matina.

MKD president Ines P. Mallari said: "The new retirement village will be a great help for Japan in their growing aging problem and this will also provide opportunities for Davao City's caregivers, interpreters and guides. It will also brighten up business prospects for local businessmen."

She added that institutions here are expensive. With the new Davao retirement village, Japanese elders will have the best option of getting the best care they need with their monthly pension.

"Japan's elders will get their monthly pension's worth if they use it in Davao since going to Japan institutions will be more costly for them," she added.