Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo joined Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. at the handover ceremony, which signaled the completion of Japan’s first Official Security Assistance (OSA) project for the Philippines.

The grant was originally agreed upon during then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Manila in November 2023.

The five radar systems, now set for deployment by the Philippine Navy, are expected to significantly enhance coastal surveillance and maritime domain awareness (MDA), particularly across strategic sea lanes in the region.

Japan’s OSA is a grant aid framework that provides defense equipment, supplies, and infrastructure support to partner countries to help strengthen deterrence capabilities, promote regional stability, and maintain international peace and security.

In his remarks, Ambassador Endo emphasized that the delivery of the radar systems represents more than just equipment transfer, but a milestone in the two countries’ evolving strategic partnership.

“This occasion marks not only the transfer of critical equipment from Japan to the Philippines, but also a meaningful milestone in the steadily deepening partnership between our two countries,” the ambassador said.

He noted that the project comes at a time when the regional security environment is becoming increasingly complex, underscoring the need for closer cooperation among like-minded nations.

“At a time when the security environment is becoming increasingly complex and difficult, strategic challenges in the region serve as a clear reminder that peace and stability cannot be taken for granted. It must be actively and collectively sustained,” he said.

Once operational, the radar systems will help improve the Philippines’ capacity to monitor maritime activity and respond to potential risks.

“Once operational by the Philippine Navy, they are expected to significantly enhance the country’s maritime domain awareness (MDA) by improving the ability to monitor activities in the surrounding waters,” he said.

Endo said that stronger Philippine maritime capabilities benefit not only national defense but also the broader region, particularly in safeguarding vital sea lanes such as the South China Sea.

“Enhancing the Philippines’ maritime domain capabilities is not only an investment in Philippine security, but also a meaningful contribution to regional and global stability,” he said.

Only OSA-receiving country

The Philippines is the only country to receive Japanese OSA support for three consecutive years since the program’s launch in 2023, a sign of the high level of trust and strategic importance Tokyo places on Manila as a partner in advancing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Beyond the radar systems, Japan has also approved the construction of boathouses and slipways for rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) for the Philippine Navy — the first infrastructure project under the OSA framework.

Security ties between the two countries have steadily expanded in recent years, including the implementation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement, the conclusion of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, and increased maritime cooperative activities.

Looking ahead, Japan is expected to take on a more active role in joint military training, including the upcoming Balikatan exercises scheduled from April to May this year.

DND Secretary Teodoro, for his part, expressed gratitude for Japan’s continuing support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization efforts and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening defense coordination.

For Endo, the radar handover stands as a symbol of shared responsibility and a common vision for peace.

“Japan will continue to work closely with the Philippines to advance the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, where peace is sustained through cooperation and prosperity is shared by all,” he said.

The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed Wednesday their strong economic partnership and recognized the substantial gains made in deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries at the conclusion of the 12^th meeting under the Duterte administration of their high-level joint committee on infrastructure development and economic cooperation.  

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III chaired the Philippine side while Mr. Mori Masafumi, the Special Advisor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, led the Japanese delegation in this morning’s virtual meeting of the Philippines-Japan High-Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation. 

Secretary Dominguez said the past six years of development cooperation between the Philippines and Japan under the umbrella of this high-level committee “have been fruitful despite the challenges and inevitable delays brought by the pandemic and unforeseen natural disasters.” 

“Between the first Joint Committee Meeting in 2017 and today, much has been started, achieved, and will be further continued,” Secretary Dominguez said. 

Mr. Mori, for his part, reiterated the commitment made by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to President Rodrigo Duterte on continuing Japan’s “support to the Philippine’s infrastructure development including railways, response to COVID-19, and capability enhancement for maritime law enforcement,” among other development initiatives between the two countries. 

“I wish to report that Japan’s public and private financial contribution to the Philippines’ nation-building in the five years since January 2017 amounts to 1.38 trillion yen, well over the 1 trillion yen mark set forth. I’d like to emphasize that the government of Japan’s commitment to the bilateral cooperation project remains unchanged under the Kishida Cabinet,” Mr. Mori said. 

Also present at the meeting held via teleconferencing was Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa. 

Secretary Dominguez extended the Philippines’ deep appreciation to the government and people of Japan for their continued assistance to the Philippines’ initiatives in accelerating infrastructure development and addressing the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

He cited Japan’s invaluable support for the implementation or completion of several  game-changing projects  in the road network development, aviation, and railway sectors under President Rodrigo Duterte’s centerpiece program “Build, Build, Build.”

Japan also played a  pivotal role in the reconstruction of the conflict-torn city of Marawi and provided timely assistance to the Philippines during the COVID-19 crisis, Secretary Dominguez said. 

“Moving forward, we are confident that the Japanese Government will continue to be a valuable partner in support of the Philippine government’s development objectives,” he added. 

Secretary Dominguez said the long-standing partnership between the two countries “proved to remain intact and beneficial, which is a testament to the resilience of our economies amidst these trying times.”

During the meeting, the two sides discussed proposed additional financing support of 30 billion yen from Japan under the 2^nd COVID-19 Crisis Response Support Loan  (CCRESL 2)  to help cover the funding for the Philippines’ ongoing national vaccination program.

The meeting also highlighted the achievements of the joint committee and the cooperation between Japan and the Philippines on the following areas: (1) pandemic response efforts, (2) implementation of flagship infrastructure projects  under the “Build, Build, Build” program; (3) support for the Mindanao peace process; and (4) sectoral cooperation particularly in regional development, information and communication technology (ICT), and energy.

Among the big-ticket projects and their progress that were discussed during the meeting were the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Dalton Pass East Alignment Alternative Road Project, Central Mindanao Highway Project (Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay Section), and the Parañaque Spillway. 

The two sides also provided updates on the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development Phase II- Component I, Davao City Flood Control and Drainage Project, the regional development masterplan for Subic Bay, and the Smart City initiatives in New Clark City. 

“We would like to recognize our strong and shared commitment to accelerating infrastructure development and economic growth in the Philippines. The support of the Government of Japan has been instrumental to the country’s growth trajectory and in our economic recovery,” Secretary Dominguez said. 

Joining Secretary Dominguez in today’s meeting were Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua; Philippine  Ambassador to the Japan Jose Laurel V; Budget and Management OIC-Secretary Tina Marie Canda; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; Public Works and Highways Acting Secretary Roger Mercado; Health Secretary Francisco Duque III; Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi; Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Eduardo Del Rosario; Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) OIC-President Aristotle Batuhan; Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Marvin Gatpayat; and Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven. 

Aside from Mr. Mori and Ambassador Koshikawa, the Japanese side was represented by, among others, Special Adviser to the Cabinet Mr. Kiyama Shigeru; Director-General Mr. Tawara Yasuo of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; Director-General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Mr. Kano Takehiro of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director Mr. Oe Toru of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry; Director-General Mr. Yamagami Noriyoshi of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism; and Senior Vice President Mr. Yamanaka Shinichi of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).