MANILA, Philippines – Pumirma ng kasunduan ang Japan at pilipinas para sa 1.1 billion Japanese yen o katumbas ng P433 milyon para itulong sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na makabili ng state-of-the-art satellite data communication system.
Ayon sa Japanese Embassy sa Manila, layon ng grant na tulungan ang PCG na mapabuti ang maritime law enforcement capabilities nito at maritime domain awareness, na makatutulong sa economic at social development ng bansa, at mapalakas ang kooperasyon sa Sulu-Celebes Sea at karatig na lugar nito, kasabay na makita ang “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
Pinirmahan nina Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa at Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo ang exchange of notes sa Department of Foreign Affairs nitong Martes, Agosto 8.
Sa sistemang ito, sinabi ni Koshikawa na ang PCG ay makasisiguro ng smooth communicatiobs sa pagitan ng 10 44-meter at dalawang 97-meter vessels at PCG headquarters “inclusive of free communication charges for 10 years”.
“[B]eing an archipelago also, Japan understands the importance of vigilance in maritime security,” ani Koshikawa.
“In light of the situations in the South China Sea, this is a very timely cooperation that will enable the decision makers of the Philippine government here in Manila to grasp in real time the situation off shore. Moreover, this will be extremely effective in terms of crisis management and response,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
