Japan hails Senate honoring 70th year of friendship
MANILA, Philippines — The Japanese embassy in Manila lauded yesterday the Senate’s passage of a resolution commemorating and honoring 70 years of friendship between the Philippines and Japan.
Ambassador Endo Kazuya attended the Senate plenary session as guest, witnessing the passage of the resolution commemorating 2026 as a significant milestone marking the 70th anniversary of Japan-Philippines friendship.
“Recognizing the deepening cooperation across a wide range of fields spanning the economy, security, people-to-people exchanges, inter-parliamentary exchanges and local government partnerships, as symbolized by the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the resolution commends the enduring friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines,” the Japanese embassy said. “It also conveys the Senate’s appreciation to the government and the people of Japan for their longstanding friendship, partnership and valuable contributions to the Philippines.”
The Japanese embassy said many of the attending senators expressed their gratitude for Japan’s official development assistance and Official Security Assistance to the Philippines, private-sector investment and active people-to-people exchanges.
Last week, the Philippines and Japan fortified a deal that will, beginning this month, allow the military forces of both nations to engage in better supplies and services exchange agreements.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu sealed the partnership.
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kitamura Toshihiro said the Exchange of Diplomatic Notes for the Entry into Force of the Agreement was signed on July 23.
Kitamura said the activity was among the highlights of Motegi’s visit to the Philippines for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held this week.
The Exchange of Diplomatic Notes seals the deal on the reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
With the event, the Japanese embassy said the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement will now enter into force on Aug. 22.
The Japanese embassy said Lazaro and Motegi signed the main agreement on Jan. 15 in Manila, which “will also promote closer cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, serving Japan’s security and enabling Japan to actively contribute to peace and security of the international community.”
Kitamura said the Philippines has been receiving a lot of assistance from Japan, especially over the past three years, and the same will continue.
Though he has limited information to share, he said Japan will be transferring another TC-90 trainer aircraft sometime by April 2027, which will add to previous provisions of inflatable rubber boats, coastal defense radars and the upcoming transfer of five newly retired Abukama-class warships to the Philippine Navy.
“The Philippines is the only country who received this assistance for three consecutive years, and we are now in discussion to materialize the next project,” Kitamura said, adding that 2026 would be the fourth consecutive year that the Philippines will receive OSA from Japan.
“By doing so, we like to make the Philippines and other ASEAN countries more resilient and strengthen its capability to have freedom to decide its own destiny,” he noted. — Helen Flores
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