The Philippines and Japan signed key agreements on security, defense, maritime cooperation, mining and tourism industries, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Friday, following a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“Today, key agreements have been signed that will propel the momentum of our bilateral relations in the next coming years, building on the Joint Statement issued on 9 February 2023 following my official visit to Japan,” President Marcos said shortly after a bilateral meeting with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Counting on the active framework of defense and security cooperation, President Marcos said that there was an Exchange of Notes on the Official Security Assistance (OSA) from Japan to the Government of the Philippines.
The OSA will further enhance the military capacities of countries, including the Philippines, which shares common security grant worth JPY 600 million or around PhP235.50 million intended to help boost the efforts of the Defense department by securing coastal radars for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enhance their maritime domain awareness capability and maritime security.
The Exchange of Notes on the Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) for the Acquisition of Construction Equipment for Road Network Improvement / Implementation and Disaster Quick Response Operation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) was also signed, the President announced.
The grant, worth JPY 957 million or US$6 million, will significantly contribute to mitigating the impact of flooding aggravated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region.
“As leaders of like-minded states, we affirm our commitment to peaceful negotiations to resolve maritime conflicts, and the need for a stable and secure environment, for mutually inclusive growth and development for our peoples.”
Also signed on Friday were the Memorandum of Cooperation on Mining Sector between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan, and the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan.
The agreements are intended for the promotion of sustainable development of the mining and mineral resources sectors of the Philippines and Japan, while the one on tourism sector aims to boost cooperation between the two countries.
Marcos expressed appreciation for Japan’s commitment to the Philippines manifested by its dynamic support to the country’s efforts to attain Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status by 2025 in line with the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
The Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway Project, and the development of the North-South Commuter Railway and its extension will secure a reliable, safe, and efficient mass transportation system for the entire country, Marcos added.
Honored by Kishida having an official visit to the Philippines, Marcos expressed gratitude to the Japanese leader, saying, “My heartfelt thanks once again to Prime Minister Kishida and his delegation for this fruitful and meaningful visit.”
Kishida’s visit marks another important milestone in the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan, which is a manifestation of a robust bilateral relations in the last 67 years. PND
