JFY2012 GGP “The Project for School Bus Procurement for Peleliu Elementary School”

On May 14, 2026, the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) Coordinator of the Embassy of Japan visited Peleliu Elementary School (PES) and met with Ms. Zeralda Smau, Principal of PES. The visit was conducted as part of follow-up to “The Project for School Bus Procurement in Peleliu Elementary School.” In this project, PES was provided with one 30-seater school bus.
 
14 years after its delivery, the bus continues to operate in good condition, providing safe and reliable transportation for 43 students at the PES. As approximately half of the students live far from the school, the bus serves as an indispensable means of transportation for both the students and their parents.

The Embassy of Japan hopes that the bus will continue to contribute to a stable learning environment and a fulfilling school life for the students in the years to come.

On the same day, the Embassy of Japan also held a Japanese cultural event at the school, which was attended by Ambassador Kasahara Kenichi.
https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_02661.html
 

        
 

On Monday, August 5, 2013, Ambassador of Japan Yoshiyuki Sadaoka formally handed over the brand new Nissan 30 seat school bus to Peleliu Elementary School (PES). The Handing Over Ceremony was held at PES gymnasium in Klouklubed, Peleliu State. The ceremony to hand over the school bus to the PES was attended by the Governor of Peleliu Temmy Shmull, Senator Phillip Reklai, Speaker of Peleliu State Legislature Kalbesang Soalablai, Director of Bureau of Education Emery Wenty, Chief of School Management Sinton Soalablai, PTA Chairman of Peleliu Elementary School Edwight Mengirarou and PES Principal Ngereblunt Arurang. PES students were also present. 　
　　
Through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), PES school bus was procured in the total cost of $100,839. This will be the second school bus donation to PES, after having awarded 12 seat microbus as the first GGP project in Palau in 1999. The first microbus donated 14 years ago has been kept good maintenance and is still in use today. However, the bus is becoming prone to breakdowns and does not meet the capacity of increased number of students in the past years. Therefore, the brand new bus procured is expected to ensure safe and reliable transportation of PES students, while being able to accommodate a larger student population. New school year beginning today, students will be able to begin their new school life along with the new school bus. 　　　
PES is the sixth school to receive GGP funding for its school bus, after Emmaus High School last year.

    
 

On Friday, February 22, 2013, Japan Ambassador Yoshiyuki Sadaoka and Peliliu Elementary School (PES) Principal Ngereblunt Arurang, signed documents formally officializing a grant to procure a brand new 30 seat microbus for the school. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education Conference Room in Medalaii and was witnessed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Youth and Social Welfare, Senator Raynold B. Oilouch, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Tourism Development and Culture, Senator Phillip Reklai, Peleliu State Delegate Jonathan Isechal, the Director of the Bureau of Education Administration, Director Emery Wenty, the Chief of School Management, Chief Sinton Soalablai, the acting Chief of Personnel, Acting Chief Philip Haruo, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer teaching at PES, Ms. Satomi Miyazaki.

The grant officialized is valued at $100,839 and is offered through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP). This will become the second bus donation to PES through GGP, after having awarded the school a 12 seat bus in 1999. Though well maintained and even still operational today, the first GGP donated bus has become quite old, and increasingly becoming prone to breakdowns. Additionally, PES’s student population has increased creating a need for a larger bus. The 30 seat bus to be procured will now ensure safe and reliable transportation of PES students, while also accommodating their larger student population.

The PES school bus will be the seventh bus donated by Japan through GGP after the first bus donation to PES in 1999, Aimeliik in 2010, Melekeok Elementary School and Belau Modekngei School in 2012, and Emmaus High School last January. A bus for Ngaremlengui Elementary School is expected to be procured and handed over later this year. Education is one of the primary fields prioritized by Japan and its grant programs like GGP.