January 18, 2024 (Quezon City) — Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. received delegates from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), headed by Director-General TANAKA Hiroo, Infrastructure Management Department of JICA. H.E KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, and other officials from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, joined the delegation.

The meeting was intended to determine how the Japanese Government, through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Official Security Assistance (OSA), could further contribute to enhancing the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities amid the evolving security challenges in the region.

During the state visit to the Philippines of Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio in November 2023, the Philippines and Japan signed and exchanged notes on Japan’s OSA, worth JP¥600 million grant aid of coastal surveillance radars to the Philippines.

Highlighting the importance of sustaining regional peace and stability,
Secretary Teodoro reaffirmed the DND and AFP’s full commitment to working with JICA in identifying maritime security cooperative projects while adopting a holistic approach to address traditional and non-traditional security concerns for long-term economic development.

Secretary Teodoro also encouraged the JICA delegation to engage with relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), among others, and Local Government Units (LGUs) to further capacitate not just the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy (PN), but also maritime law enforcement agencies and Filipino fisherfolks.

The meeting concluded with possible cooperation on information sharing, hardware and software support, and technical assistance.