By: Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
The Philippines and Japan have exchanged notes on major local infrastructure projects and an economic and social development program during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Pasay City.
President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed the close ties between the two countries during their bilateral meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay Monday.
Among the exchange of notes witnessed by the two world leaders were the Metro Manila subway project by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and new Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3, and an economic and social development program.
The economic and social development grant includes the provision of equipment for the Department of Public Works and Highways for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and coast watch radars to increase the Philippine anti-terrorism capabilities in west Mindanao for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative in the Philippines Susumu Ito had an exchange of loan agreement on the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project.
Department of National Defense Undersecretary for Finance, Ammunitions, Installations, and Materials Raymundo Elefante and Commissioner Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency Yoshiyuki Suzuki signed the Amended Letter of Arrangement on the transfer of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force trainer aircraft TC-90s.
Last month, Japan pledged over $1 billion for the infrastructure projects in the Philippines by exchanging notes on the provision of a yen loan.
