President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
November 3, 2023
“This wide-ranging discussion is a manifestation of how robust our bilateral relations have become in the last 67 years,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored during the presentation of agreements with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace.
The President highlighted the Prime Minister’s visit as another important milestone in a strategic partnership and a testament to the strong commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Among the agreements presented during the event include:
• Exchange of Notes on the Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) for the Acquisition of Construction Equipment for Road Network Improvement/ Implementation and Disaster Quick Response Operation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
• Memorandum of Cooperation on the Mining Sector between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
The President also mentioned the ‘Exchange of Notes on the Official Security Assistance (OSA) from Japan to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’, which will help boost the efforts of the Department of National Defense (DND).
“At this juncture, I wish to note with appreciation Japan’s commitment to the Philippines, which is manifested by its dynamic support to the Philippines’ efforts to attain Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status by 2025 in line with our Philippine Development Plan 2023- 2028,” President Marcos Jr. further stated.
The Chief Executive also noted the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway Project and the development of the North-South Commuter Railway that will secure a reliable, safe and efficient mass transportation system for the entire country.
“My heartfelt thanks once again to Prime Minister Kishida and his delegation for this fruitful and meaningful visit,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his message.
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