On an exciting note, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Endo Kazuga, said his country is developing a people-to-people exchange program with the Philippines that will be increasingly active. Last year, over 800,000 Filipinos visited Japan.

People-to-people exchange is the foundation of the bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines. “We are currently making preparations for the establishment of a Visa Center that will further streamline the examination process in order to continue strengthening the robust ties between our two counties,” Kasuga said.

In addition to deepening Japan-Philippine security cooperation and Japan-Philippines-US trilateral relations, the two countries have extended their cooperation to economic, infrastructure, “human security” ties, and beyond.

Japanese companies are showing an increased interest in the Philippines. Our country has been experiencing economic growth in recent years, with relaxed foreign investment restrictions in various sectors. There is a huge labor force in the Philippines with a high English proficiency, an added incentive for Japanese companies.

The Philippines has the largest number of Uniqlo and Daiso stores in Southeast Asia. These Japanese store chains, known for their vast array of unique and affordable products across various categories such as Japanese inspired goods, stationery, food, beauty and more are all over the country.

The recent enactment of the CREATE MORE Act will grow Japanese investments in the Philippines over the years.

In the medium and long terms, investments from the Philippines to Japan are expected to increase.

In dialogues in the economic, social and environmental fields, both the officials in government and of private companies participated in the presentation of environmental technologies, including on climate change and waste management.

Attending the meeting on 14 January 2025 on the occasion of the opening of Environment Week were both Japan Minister of Environment Kobagushi Fumiaki and Philippines Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. Japan with its vast experience in the field expressed its willingness to help the Philippines.

With the diverse partnership, Japan will continue to support infrastructure development in the country in line with President Marcos’s Build Better More policy as well as the Philippine Development Plan.

For more than half a century, Japan has been by far the largest bilateral donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA). An outstanding example is the Japan-Philippines Friendship Road, which was started in 1968 and was the first ODA project in the Philippines.

Japan has extended more financial and technical assistance to improve the public transportation network, such as the Metro Manila Subway Project, the North-South Commuter Railway, and the Viaduct Span Connection for the NSCR which supports the development of a 38-kilometer section of the commuter rail line from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila.

These infrastructure projects will alleviate traffic congestion in urban areas and provide a more comfortable quality of life for Filipinos.

Japan also supports the Mindanao Peace Process under the principle of “human security.” It has supported this process for the past 20 years.

Finally, Ambassador Kazuga said: “In 2026, Japan and the Philippines will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1956. Japan is determined to continue promoting Japan-Philippines relations in a wide range of fields, building fervently on this extraordinary milestone.”