Ex-finance secretary Dominguez gets Japan's Grand Cordon Order of the Rising Sun
Former Finance chief Carlos Dominguez III has been conferred by Japanese Emperor Naruhito with Japan's distinguished award for local and non-local government officials.
Domiguez received on November 9 the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun for exercising "outstanding leadership in promoting cooperation" between" Japan and the Philippines.
He also "contributed to the fast and sure implementation of Japan's official development assistance in the Philippines," the Japanese government said in its announcement.
Dominguez, who served as the Duterte administration's chief for the Department of Finance (DOF), was the chairperson of the Japan-Philippines High-level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation from 2016 to 2022.
The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is awarded to a person who has made outstanding achievements as Minister of State, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Senior Vice-Minister, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President of the House of Councilors, or Judge of the Supreme Court. Originally given only to Japanese citizens, the award started to be conferred to non-Japanese nationals as well in 1981.
The Japanese government also cited Dominguez fot taking the lead in the further development of the Subic Bay area, which plays an important part in regional security environment as a strategic point and gateway to the West Philippine Sea.
"Furthermore, as co-chair of the National Government–Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, Former Secretary Dominguez promoted the steady progress of the peace process in Mindanao, which Japan has pushed forward for many years," the citation said.
"He has contributed in many ways to Japan-Philippines bilateral policies and strengthened economic relations over the recent years," it added.
Four other Filipinos also received the award—Former Philippine ambassador to Japan Albert Del Rosario, former Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade (Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star), Philippine Judo Federation secretary-general David Carter(Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays), and Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center’s Josue Sim Zuniega (Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays)