December 5, 2024 (Pasay City) – Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. witnessed the signing of the exchange of notes for the Official Security Assistance (OSA) FY2024 grant of the Government of Japan to the Philippines.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Endo Kazuya formalized the agreement for the JPY 1.6 billion OSA, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to enhancing the Philippines’ defense and security capabilities. Notably, the Philippines is the only recipient of Japan’s OSA grant for two consecutive years.

This year’s assistance includes support to the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force to improve maritime and air domain awareness capabilities.

The strengthened security cooperation reflects Japan and the Philippines’ shared commitment to regional peace and stability. Secretary Teodoro, for his part, expressed his gratitude to Japan for its continuous support. He also emphasized the importance of bilateral and multilateral partnerships in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty in advancing shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region.