Twenty young Filipino government employees will soon have the chance to pursue master’s degrees at top universities in Japan, thanks to a new scholarship initiative signed on April 25, 2025.
Ambassador Kazuya Endo of Japan and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique A. Manalo signed and exchanged notes for The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) at a ceremony held at the DFA headquarters.
The grant, valued at JPY 389 million (approximately ₱150 million), will cover the full education costs for the selected scholars starting in the Academic Year 2026-2027.
The JDS program is part of Japan’s continuing commitment to strengthen the Philippines’ human resource development efforts. It seeks to deepen the expertise of Filipino professionals across various fields, ultimately boosting the country’s national development.
Since its inception in 2002, the JDS initiative has supported a total of 459 Filipino government employees in pursuing advanced studies in Japan.
Interested applicants and the general public can find more information about the JDS program through the following links:
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Note: Currency conversion based on BSP March 2025 average exchange rate of PHP 0.3852 to JPY.