By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Friday, Feb. 10, vowed to continue assisting the Philippines to meet its diverse development needs.
This was during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s meeting with JICA President Akihiko Tanaka as part of his five-day state visit in Japan.
Tanaka reiterated JICA’s importance to the Philippines, a longtime ally of Japan, and lauded Marcos’ recent meetings with Japanese leaders.
Tanaka told Marcos, “Yesterday I think you had a good conversation with the Prime Minister.”
JICA also celebrated the signing of loan agreements with the Philippines for Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans for the North-South Commuter Railway Project (Malolos – Tutuban) II and its extension.
“And then we’re now ready on proceeding… [and all] other important projects, and we will do our best,” Tanaka added.
President Marcos called Japan a top partner in “many of these important undertakings.”
“In behalf of my family, in behalf of my countrymen, we would like to thank you and we look forward [to] a continuing partnership in the future,” Marcos said.
“Of course the transfer of technologies can help our countries… and this [brings us] to a new area of partnership,” he added.
JICA is the world’s largest bilateral aid agency, with 90 offices in over 150 countries and regions.
It is a leading Philippine socioeconomic development partner. -ag
