Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo signed last week an agreement for the JDS project granting Filipinos human resource development scholarships.

The deal, signed by Manalo and Kazuya at the Department of Foreign Affairs office, is valued at JPY 389 million (approximately P150 million).

The JDS is part of Japan’s ongoing efforts to support human resource development in the Philippines, reinforcing the partnership between the two nations.

The partnership will support the education of 20 young Filipino government employees pursuing master’s degrees at top universities in Japan.

The program aims to enhance the expertise of Filipino professionals, fostering their contributions to national development.

Since its inception in 2002, the program has awarded scholarships to 459 Filipino government employees, providing them with an opportunity to study at Japan’s esteemed institutions.

The scholarship is open to Filipinos aged 22 to 39 who are employed in the Philippine government with at least two years of relevant work experience.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (PBT) or 79-80 (iBT), or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. They must also have a performance rating of at least “Very Satisfactory” in their most recent evaluation.

Upon completing their studies, fellows are expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of the Philippines by applying the knowledge gained during their stay in Japan.

The JDS is part of Japan’s ongoing efforts to support human resource development in the Philippines, reinforcing the partnership between the two nations.