By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed delegates of the Economic Cooperation Committees of Japan and the Philippines for their 42nd Annual Joint Meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday to discuss further partnerships on job creation and long-term economic growth.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the discussion focused on expanding cooperation in trade, infrastructure, tourism, and human resource development between the two countries.
“The meeting reaffirmed the Philippines and Japan’s strong and strategic partnership, anchored on shared prosperity and concrete economic results for both nations,” the PCO said.
The courtesy call to the President was attended by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Department of Economic, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez, and other key officials.
The Japanese delegates include Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya and Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs Naobumi Yokota, as well as representatives from the Philippines-Japan Economic Operation Committee (PHILJEC) and Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC).
The meeting came as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday signed a JPY1.7-billion grant agreement to build a modern rice processing system in Cauayan City, Isabela.
The facility will feature high-capacity mechanical grain dryers, a multi-stage rice mill, and grain silos aimed at strengthening the buffer stocking capability of the National Food Authority.
“Ang nasabing pasilidad ay inaasahan ding makakatulong sa NFA para maiwasan ang pagkalugi ng ating mga magsasaka, pataasin ang milling recovery rates, at pagandahin pa ang kalidad ng lokal na bigas para sa disaster relief efforts at programa ng pamahalaan gaya ng ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na,’ mas matatag na suplay ng pagkain para sa mga mamimili at mas magandang kita para sa mga magsasaka,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
-av
