PH, Japan Speakers to boost defense ties, expand trilateral ties with US

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Japanese Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga have committed to expanding and strengthening bilateral relations as well as trilateral ties with the United States (US).

In a statement on Tuesday, Romualdez said the relationship between the Philippines and Japan is at a record high because of the strategic partnership of the two Asian countries in terms of development and security arrangements.

“Our relationship is at an all-time high with the recent signing not just of the trilateral agreement, but of our relationship, of our strategic partnership,” Romualdez told Nukaga during their meeting.

“We thank the Japan[ese] government and the people of Japan for all the support and the assistance through the ODA and now through our official security agreement,” he added.

Among the defense and development programs Romualdez cited was the provision of Y600 million worth of defense aid under the Official Security Assistance (OSA), signed last November 3, 2023, when Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visited the Philippines.

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The aid was translated into new Coastal Radar Systems, which are expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the field of advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance functionalities.

“Japan has provided not only radar systems for our Coast Guard but also choppers and ships to expand our maritime assets for the Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy due to the archipelagic nature of our country and many, many miles of shoreline,” Romualdez said.

“We are most appreciative of this assistance and capacity-building that the JICA [provides]. A lot of these go to the island region of Mindanao, the BARMM. It has provided a lot in ushering peace, stability, and prosperity in that region. It has helped [immensely],” he added.

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According to Romualdez, Nukaga also hailed the trilateral agreement between the Philippines, the US, and Japan, formalized during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Kishida’s visit to Washington, D.C. last April 2024.

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Romualdez said that Nukaga considers the trilateral deal “very important to promote cooperation among the three countries”, particularly for the security, safety, and stability of the region.  For his part, the Philippine official lauded Japan for its continuous support of the country’s development and security.

“As the number one provider of official development assistance, you have helped us in our economy in many aspects. You have also helped us in times of disaster and calamities, and we would also like to thank you for the support from JICA that continues to bring our economy to fruition. We thank the Japanese government and the people of Japan for all the support and assistance through the ODA,” the Filipino Speaker said.

“Japan remains one of the Philippines’ most dependable partners.  Our shared universal values, including freedom, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a free and open economy, underpin our strategic partnership,” he added.

Romualdez also thanked Japan for protecting the 300,000 Filipinos in the said country, which includes overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“We have very strong diplomatic relations, particularly involving defense and economic ties. We express our deep appreciation for Japan’s role in securing, nurturing, and accepting over 300,000 Filipinos who reside here,” he said.

“Our countries have continually engaged with each other since last year, a clear indication of the firm commitment of both our countries to our decades-long cooperation,” he added.

Romualdez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, House committee on appropriations head Rep. Zaldy Co, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco are in Japan for a series of meetings with their counterparts.

Nukaga meanwhile was accompanied by Vice-Speaker Kaieda Banri and House of Representatives International Affairs Department Director General Hironori Yamamoto.

Aside from Romualdez and Nukaga, other House officials led by Velasco also held discussions with their counterparts, particularly with Director General Hironori, to exchange best practices in the legislative processes.

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Velasco said that the meeting underscored the commitment of both nations to strengthen parliamentary cooperation.

Among the best practices discussed in the meeting, Velasco said, were the following:

• digital transformation of legislative processes
• effective public consultation mechanisms
• strategies for enhancing legislative oversight