DoF chief hails Japan role in dev’t goal

“Japan’s willingness to support our development efforts has always been a strong thread running through our nation’s history.”

Japan remains a “true and reliable friend” of the Philippines and the country will continue to depend on this close relationship to help fuel its economic emergence and its goal of bringing its people to prosperity, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Dominguez said as the Philippines join the ranks of Asia’s tiger economies, its bilateral ties with Japan have “become closer and stronger.”

He noted that Japan remains the Philippines’ major source of official development assistance (ODA), its main source of infrastructure support, a top export market and one of its most important trade partners.

“The story of Philippine independence, therefore, is also a story of partnership between our two nations. Japan’s willingness to support our development efforts has always been a strong thread running through our nation’s history,” Dominguez said during the diplomatic reception for the 120th anniversary of Philippine Independence held at the Fuji Room of the Imperial Hotel last June 20.

“Japan’s willingness to support our development efforts has always been a strong thread running through our nation’s history.”

Also in attendance at the reception were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Yasuo Fukuda, the former Prime Minister of Japan; Taro Kono, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Jose Laurel V, the Philippine ambassador to Tokyo; Koji Haneda, the Japanese ambassador to Manila; and Nobuteru Ishihara, chairman of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarian’s Friendship League.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar were also present at the event.

Dominguez said over the medium term, the government intends to make the “most dramatic advances” towards finally resolving its persistent problem of poverty, by working to make the country an upper middle-income economy by 2022 and reducing poverty incidence to just 14 percent by that time.

He expects the country’s young and well-trained workforce to power this economic transformation.

“In this grand effort to bring our country to prosperity, we will continue to rely on Japan’s support and encouragement,” Dominguez said.

“Our bilateral relationship looks as promising as ever. The partnership between our two countries will surely become even more productive and vital,” he added.

He said that with the strong friendship between the two countries, the Philippines is looking to “the future with confidence.”