Bright outlook for continuing PH-Japan bilateral cooperation
Published Feb 24, 2022 12:05 am
The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their enduring economic partnership as shown by further gains made in strengthening bilateral cooperation at the conclusion of the 12th meeting of the high-level joint committee on infrastructure development and economic cooperation held last Feb. 16.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Mr. Mori Masafumi, special adviser to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, noted the significant progress achieved during the past six years of this high-level committee that has resulted in Japan’s financial contribution amounting to 1.38 trillion yen, exceeding the 1 trillion yen benchmark. The three areas of focus were railways infrastructure, capability enhancement for maritime law enforcement, and COVID-19 response.
Highlighted during the meeting was Japan’s “invaluable support for several game-changing projects in the road network development, aviation, and railways sectors under President Duterte’s centerpiece program Build, Build. Build.” Also discussed were Japan’s assistance to the reconstruction of Marawi City and support for the Mindanao peace process and sectoral cooperation in regional development, information and communication technology and energy.
Beyond the present administration’s tenure that ends on June 30, it is expected that current big-ticket projects in the pipeline will be pursued until completion. These include, among others: the Metro Manila Subway Project, the North-South Commuter Railway Project, rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, the Dalton East Alignment Alternative Road Project, the Central Mindanao Highway Project, the Parañaque Spillway, the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development, Davao City Flood Control and Drainage Project, the regional development masterplan for Subic Bay, and the Smart City initiatives in New Clark City.
Moving forward, the Philippines prepared to seek additional funding support of 30 billion yen from Japan for the ongoing national vaccination program.
The Philippines and Japan marked last year the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“We are currently enjoying our golden age of bilateral relations,” notes Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, as he observes further: “It’s incredible because Japan was an ex-enemy. We invaded and caused damage to the Philippine people, so it took a long time to overcome and to cure the wounds.” He points to the memorial in honor of the late President Elpidio Quirino in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park as a testament to the enduring ties between the two countries.
It was during President Quirino’s incumbency that the Philippines agreed to establish diplomatic ties with Japan. That earned widespread commendation for President Quirino’s statesmanship and “great act of magnanimity, normalizing relations with Japan and even granting clemency to some Japanese prisoners” --- notwithstanding the fact that he lost his wife and three children in the hands of the Japanese forces in 1945.
People-to-people exchanges have also served to solidify the bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Japan. More Filipinos have been visiting Japan, with more than 600,000 tourists per year since the easing of visa requirements in the pre-pandemic period.
With both sides actively working in a spirit of amity, the outlook is bright for the future of Philippines-Japan bilateral cooperation.