Malacañan Palace
26 August 2014

Ending his service for more than three years in the country, outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe paid a farewell call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang.

The Japanese envoy was accompanied by Japan Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Tetsuro Amano and Political Section Minister Hironori Shibata.

President Aquino conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Gold Distinction) to Ambassador Urabe in recognition of his outstanding service and important contributions in further strengthening and deepening the foundation of the friendly and strategic bilateral relations with the Government of Japan and the Philippines.

He was also recognized for his support in the peace process and development in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao and assistance to the Philippines in times of natural disasters.

Amb. Urabe helped in facilitating the conclusion of various cooperation agreements, namely on Information and Communications Technology and the Implementation of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) System for digital terrestrial television broadcasting, and various exchange of notes for the grant, aid and loan projects in the Philippines.

Also present during the farewell call were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

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