By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Two more government programs got funding through outside grants in the later part of March this year, according to data submitted to the 7th Olbiil Era Kelulau by the office of the Budget and Planning, Ministry of Finance.
The total amount of the grants for two separate agencies was $188,139.
On March 28, the Ministry of Resources and Development (MRD) received $113,000 from the United States Department of Interior (USDOI) to provide fund to continue the facilitation of rapid development of the Palau Automated Land Resources and Information System (PALARIS) Geographic Information System (GIS) Project.
This project is to provide user training on the system. The grant budget period is from March 28, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
Also on March 30, the Ministry of Health (MOH) received $75,139 from the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS).
This project grant, which will run until March 29 next year, is to provide fund for diabetes prevention and control program.
Several other grants were received in March amounting to $5.3 million, which were already submitted to the OEK in a separate report.
The biggest grant totaled $3,355,000 from the government of Taiwan providing funding assistance to the insolvent Pacific Savings Bank.
Another grant received on March 9 from the University of the South Pacific based in Fiji was the $95,040 that was used for the Education Awareness Week Program.
On March 15, a grant of $23,953 was received from the Czech Republic to provide fund to pay all expense for volunteer dentist Dr. Palek.
A grant of $279,146 was also received on March 19 from the USDHHS for the MOH to provide fund supporting health care system to deliver and coordinate effective care to victims of terrorism and other public health emergencies.
The other grant received was the $1.5 million from the US Department of Transportation for the Ministry of Commerce and Trade for the fund for Airport Rescue and Firefighting Facility Phase II for the Palau International Airport.