Speaker Martin Romualdez (4th, right side) and Japanese Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga (center, left side) meet at the Tokyo parliamentary building late Tuesday morning. They share a moment of camaraderie and diplomatic dialogue aimed at strengthening the ties between the Philippines and Japan. (Speaker's office)

A Speaker Martin Romualdez-led delegation to Japan has secured a firm commitment from top Japanese parliamentarians to facilitate the hiring of more Filipinos by the Japanese government, particularly in crucial sectors such as elderly care.

This commitment was made during high-level discussions with National Diet of Japan Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga and Vice-Speaker Banri Kaieda at the Tokyo parliamentary building before noon Tuesday, June 18.

During the meeting, Vice-Speaker Kaieda acknowledged Japan’s demographic challenges and the valuable contributions of Filipino workers.

“Japan is facing a decrease in population, and in this regard, Japan truly appreciates the Filipinos working here, especially elderly care workers. We are looking forward to welcoming more Filipinos to work in Japan,” Kaieda said.

Responding to this commitment, Romualdez emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation between the two nations.

"The Philippines has a growing population, so we are more than happy for our people to come and work here after receiving the appropriate training," he stated.

Romualdez said this will enable Filipino workers to integrate into society and benefit from the best practices and advanced technology that Japan has to offer.

He continued, “It creates an ideal environment for Japan to continue investing in the Philippines, not just in human resources but in Japanese-trained human resources, which will further promote economic cooperation between our countries.”

In the same meeting, Nukaga committed to continued cooperation to help uplift the Philippine economy, and noted the presence of 1,400 Japanese companies operating in the Philippines.

“I will continue to cooperate with the Philippines to help uplift the Philippine economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Romualdez expressed profound gratitude for Japan’s unwavering support for over 300,000 Filipinos residing in Japan.

“We appreciate your efforts in securing, nurturing, and accepting our Filipinos who are in Japan,” said Romualdez, who cited the importance of these diplomatic efforts in fostering a strong community and ensuring the welfare of Filipino expatriates.

Of the more than 300,000 Filipinos in Japan, around 164,000 of them work in sectors such as caregiving, agriculture, hospitality, and manufacturing.

The leader of the Philippine House of Representatives also underscored Japan’s leading role in providing economic assistance through official development fund (ODA), which is important in the Philippines’ development and disaster response.

“We thank the government and the people of Japan for all the support and assistance through the [ODA] and now through our official security agreement,” he said.

“As the number one provider of [ODA], you have helped us in our economy in many aspects, and you have also been there for us in times of disaster and calamities,” Romualdez said.

The continuous support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was also acknowledged, with Romualdez noting its contributions to the Philippines’ economic landscape.

He said the high-level exchanges and visits by respective heads of state, including the historic signing of the trilateral agreement in Washington DC involving Japan, the Philippines, and the United States (US), further underscored the strengthening alliance.

“We are happy because this is a great lead-up to the celebration of 70 years of our diplomatic relations in 2026,” Romualdez said.

The Philippines is the third-largest recipient of Japan’s ODA, following India and Bangladesh.