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Man’amko gets 10 wheelchairs, 5 more on the way
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Posted on Mar 15 2006
Japanese company Marianas Environment and Development, Inc. donated 10 wheelchairs to the Aging Center Tuesday and promised that it would be delivering five more after noticing that some of the equipment were too small for the man’amko.
In a turnover ceremony attended by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Commerce Secretary James Santos, and other government officials, MEDI, led by its president, Yamada Kazukyo, presented the wheelchairs to Aging Center director Joe Palacios.
Kazukyo was accompanied by MEDI Japan officers Kuroki Hirofumi, Shibata Norichika, Fujimoto Daisuke, Sumi Yoshihiro and Kimura Yuka
Immediately after seeing the wheelchairs and the ones who would use them, Kazukyo promised that his company would be re-ordering five more wheelchairs, which would be wider.
Aside from the wheelchairs, the Japanese company also donated 10 55-lbs sacks of rice for the man’amko, while five sacks were donated to the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
Ninety-nine Salonpas patches were also given to the Aging Center and three bush cutters were given to the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
MEDI chairman Kuroki provided brief remarks to introduce the group to the man’amko. Through interpreter Yuko Seman, Kuroki said his group was pleased to provide the CNMI elderly something that would be of great use to them.
Villagomez also spoke in English and Chamorro and thanked the group for its generosity. Villagomez, however, jestingly told the man’amko that it would be better to see them active on their feet rather than on the wheelchairs.
The governor also didn’t miss a beat and said that on Monday he would have to have a taste of the rice donated by MEDI with the man’amko.
The man’amko provided entertainment to the visiting group with local and island style dances.
Palacios, meanwhile, said he is very thankful for the donations of the Japanese company. He said the rice would be able to sustain their meals for more than a month.
MEDI is a newly established Japanese development firm in the CNMI with its head office in Japan. Its CNMI office started operating in early January this year.
