President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has underscored the importance of sustaining strong bilateral relations with Japan specifically in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure and national defense.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution seeking to strengthen mutual cooperation between the Philippines and Japan through the Philippines-Japan Parliamentarians’ Friendship Society, and to designate the organization’s officers and members.
The President made the statement in a meeting with officials of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League (JPPFL) led by its chairman Moriyama Hiroshi at Malacañang.
“The support that we are receiving from Japan in this regard, in terms of our equipment, in terms of our inter-operability operations, are valuable, I think, for both our countries and I believe that we should strengthen that,” the Chief Executive said.
“We should continue that and continue to be in partnership as we face the different, the volatile situation that we have in our region,” he added.
Marcos noted that over the years, Japan has been the Philippines’ partner in terms of infrastructure and agricultural development, citing assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as loans and financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The President said the Philippines and its Japanese partners, especially in infrastructure development, could reap benefits from several arrangements such as public-private partnership (PPP), and government-to-government (G2G) arrangements.
Marcos also reiterated that his administration would prioritize agriculture to ensure food security and boost the Philippine economy.
“It is something that we feel is important, not only for the survival of our populace, the food supply of our populace, but also it is necessary….. If the rest of our industrialization can continue, if the rest of our digitalization can continue, it must be based on a strong foundation of agriculture sector,” he said.
“In this regard, certainly Japan has been a very strong partner of the Philippines, in terms of transfer of technology, in terms of support that has been given by Japan to Filipino farmers and the Philippines’ agricultural sector,” the President added.
For his part, Moriyoma expressed support for the Philippines’ development initiatives, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, defense and security, as well as the Mindanao peace process.
“We’d also like to see government-to-government cooperation on strengthening the defense industry, which is a priority. That’s why regarding the OSA, Official Security Assistance, the Philippines is one of the first candidate countries for OSA,” Moriyoma said.
He said Japan was pleased to see Philippine achievements in defense, particularly the implementation of joint training in the past months.
Marcos said the trilateral agreement with the United States is also “another very important step” to guarantee the peace and safety of the shipping lanes, as well as to protect territorial rights and sovereignty.
The JPPFL is composed of parliamentarians who promote Japan’s relations with the Philippines at the National Diet (House of Parliament). It is vital and instrumental in sustaining Japan’s development and technical assistance to the Philippines.
The meeting with JPPFL officials marked the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month which is celebrated every July.
Present during the meeting at Malacañang were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia Albano, and other officials from the Embassy of Japan to the Philippines.
Formed in 1986 to advance legislative initiatives that promote positive engagement between the Philippines and Japan, JPPFL also leads Japan’s cultivation of inter-parliamentary relations with the Philippine Congress.
The Philippines-Japan Parliamentarian Association was established in 1987 following the JPPFL’s visit to the Philippines.
The congressmen ratified House Resolution (HR) 1146 introduced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
“The Philippines and Japan have a history of close bilateral relations spanning more than 67 years now. And in those long years, Japan has always been a close ally in almost every facet of international relations, especially in the areas of trade and economy,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The resolution stated that on July 23, 1956, the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Japan-Philippines Reparations Agreement were enforced, normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“In 1971, the Philippines-Japan Society was established which positively contributed to the strong bilateral Philippines-Japan relations that now persist at various levels of great importance – business and economics, academic, technical training, cultural and interpersonal exchange,” HR 1146 read.
“On November 13, 1987, the House of Representatives adopted House Resolution No. 14, entitled ‘Resolution Organizing the Philippines-Japan Parliamentarians’ Friendship Society,’ strengthening the inter-parliamentary dialogue and enhancing beneficial ties between the House of Representatives of both the Republic of the Philippinesand Japan,” it added.
The measure also designated the officers and members of the friendship society, with Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Glona Labadlabad as chairperson, Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas as vice-chairperson; and Gonzales, Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Reps. Isidro Ungab, Roberto Puno, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Camille Villar, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Ralph Recto, Vincent Frasco, Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Gerardo Valmayor, Jr., Mario Vittorio Mariño, Raul Tupas, Neptali Gonzales II, Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer, Ma. Lucille Nava, Rufus Rodriguez, Jose Francisco Benitez, Ron Salo, Antonio Albano, Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr., Marissa Magsino, Tsuyoshi Anthony
Horibata, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, Robert Raymund Estrella and Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr. as members.
It further noted that the friendship society is based on “genuine friendship and mutual trust and respect,” where the relationshipbetween the Philippines and Japanese governments was strengthened.
“To commemorate the 50 years of strong partnership and diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan, the year 2006 was declared as the Philippines-Japan Friendship Year under Proclamation No. 905, Series of 2005, and July 23, 2006, as the Philippines-Japan Friendship Day, by virtue of Proclamation No. 854, Series of 2005,” the resolution expressed.
“As members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Scout Parliamentary Union, and the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat, the bilateral and international cooperation between the Philippines and
Japan intensified and led to more purposeful exchanges of best practices and experiences in promoting sustainable development goals and other mutual concerns and interests,” it said.
It also said that with the accession of Japan as a dialogue partner to the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, “the special relationship of the Philippines and Japan is further developed, and the regional cooperation towards perpetual peace, everlasting amity, and collaboration among the peoples in ASEAN is enhanced.”
“Through the Philippine-Japan Parliamentarians’ Friendship Society, the Philippines and Japan share a common aspiration to intensify their collaborative endeavors in pursuit of regional peace and prosperity, to promote mutual understanding and cooperation, and to strengthen the bonds of camaraderie and solidarity between them,” the resolution read.