MANILA, Philippines – Pinaigting ng Japan at Pilipinas ang kanilang ugnayang pang-ekonomiya at pang-seguridad sa pagdiriwang ng 69th Japan-Philippines Friendship Day, ayon kay Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya.
Sa kanyang sanaysay na pinamagatang “A Friendship Woven in Trust,” binigyang-diin ni Endo ang “economic partnership” ng dalawang bansa bilang isang “important thread.”
Aniya, “Japan has been consistently supporting sustainable development in the Philippines. The past year has seen a significant bolstering of our economic cooperation, with Japan contributing to quality infrastructure projects in the country.”
Kabilang sa mga proyektong binanggit niya ay ang Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), at Davao City Bypass Construction Project, na lahat ay pinondohan ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Ipinagdiwang din ngayong taon ang 60th anniversary ng Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV).
Dagdag pa ni Endo, “Japan also remains as one of the top investors in the Philippines,” na may cumulative investments na higit sa ₱550 bilyon at nakalikha ng trabaho para sa higit 300,000 Filipinos sa mga PEZA zones.
“Following the relaxation of foreign ownership rules in retail, we’ve recently welcomed several prominent Japanese brands.”
Binanggit niya ang pagbubukas ng Nitori noong 2024 at Mitsukoshi BGC noong 2023.
Inilahad din ng ambassador ang kontribusyon ng Japan sa peace process sa Bangsamoro region sa ilalim ng Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).
“These efforts encompass capacity-building for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), assistance in the transformation of former combatant communities into progressive and resilient societies, and the provision of socio-economic development assistance,” ani Endo.
Samantala, ibinida rin ni Endo ang kasunduang Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) na nilagdaan noong Hulyo 2024.
“This concept, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the region through ensuring rules-based international order, has certainly been realized by our bilateral cooperation,” aniya.
“The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) signed in July 2024, for instance, has emerged as a landmark achievement for our two countries.”
Ang nasabing kasunduan ay kapareho ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) ng Pilipinas at US, at ikatlong defense accord ng Japan kasunod ng United Kingdom at Australia.
“Its unanimous approval by the Philippine Senate in December of the same year and its approval by the Japanese Diet last June underscore our shared commitment to regional peace and stability.”
Inihayag rin ni Endo na sinimulan na ang negosasyon para sa Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) at isang Agreement on the Security of Information.
Nauna nang napaulat na magdo-donate ang Japan ng anim na warships sa Pilipinas.
“The Philippines holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the OSA, as well as the only country to have been granted OSA funding for two consecutive years,” sabi ni Endo.
Aniya, kasalukuyan nang isinasagawa ang feasibility study para sa third-year OSA aid.
“We have also witnessed the frequent conduct of Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA) and increased port visits by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels in the country.”
Ngayong taon, ginanap ang 71st Anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces sa barkong JS ISE sa Port of Manila.
Kooperasyon sa nuclear disarmament
Binanggit rin ng ambassador ang pagtataguyod ng Pilipinas at Japan sa nuclear non-proliferation sa pamamagitan ng Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
“As fellow members of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, we are working together to enhance cooperation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,” sabi ni Endo.
Lalim ng people-to-people ties
Ibinida ni Endo ang 820,000 Filipino visitors sa Japan noong nakaraang taon at inaasahang madaragdagan pa ito sa pagbubukas ng Japan Visa Application Center (JVAC).
“With tourism a promising source of shared experiences, our ties continue to find renewal through the personal encounters Filipinos have with Japanese culture,” aniya.
Sa mga pagtitipon sa Ambassador’s Residence, ibinahagi umano ng mga dating kalahok ng JET Programme, MEXT scholars, JDS fellows, at SSEAYP delegates ang mga natamong karanasan at pagkakaibigang nabuo sa pagitan ng mga mamamayan ng Pilipinas at Japan. RNT/JGC
