MANILA, Philippines – TINITINGAN ng Pilipinas ang posibilidad na ‘partnership’ sa Japan kaugnay sa nagpapatuloy na self-defense reliant posture (SRDP) program.
Ito’y matapos na mag-courtesy call si Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko kay Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. sa DND headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, araw ng Huwebes.
“Both officials explored the possibility of collaboration on the development of the Philippines’ SRDP through research and development (R&D) on defense equipment, systems and other related technologies, as well as expertise exchange,” ayon kay DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong sa isang kalatas.
Kapwa naman sumang-ayon ang dalawang opisyal na isulong ang security partnership ng dalawang bansa.
“Secretary Teodoro thanked Japan for being (a) partner in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Modernization Program through the ongoing Air Surveillance Radars Project with the Philippine Air Force (PAF). He likewise expressed his heartfelt appreciation for Japan’s assistance in responding to the oil spill incident which affected communities in Regions IV-B and VI,” ayon kay Andolong.
Sa kabilang dako, winelcome din ni Teodoro ang Official Security Assistance (OSA) ng Japan kung saan isa ang Pilipinas sa mga “grantee.”
Nagpasalamat naman si Teodoro sa progreso ng defense relation ng Pilipinas at Japan.
Nangyari ang lahat ng ito sa isinagawang paglagda sa Terms of Reference (TOR) ukol sa Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activity sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa nang magsagawa ng state visit si Pangulong Marcos sa Japan noong Perero.
“Secretary Teodoro noted the progress of defense relations between the Philippines and Japan since his former stint as the SND (Secretary of National Defense) from 2007-2009. The Secretary recalled that his first assignment at the time was to organize the 2009 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR), a multilateral HADR event wherein Japan was among the participants,” giit ni Andolong.
Samantala, pinuri naman ni Koshikawa ang “close and robust partnership” sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa. Kris Jose
