Japan remained the Philippines’ largest source of official development assistance in 2024, accounting for roughly one-third of the country’s active ODA portfolio, according to the latest consolidated government data.

With the Philippines’ total active ODA portfolio reaching nearly $40 billion (approximately P2.32 trillion) in 2024, Japan’s share underscores its dominant role in financing large-scale infrastructure and development projects, ahead of other bilateral and multilateral partners.

Japanese support has long anchored the country’s infrastructure pipeline, particularly in transport modernization.

Ongoing flagship projects include the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the Metro Manila Subway, and the Davao City Bypass — investments seen as critical to easing congestion, lowering logistics costs, and strengthening regional connectivity.

Once completed, the 147-kilometer NSCR linking Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, is expected to serve hundreds of thousands of commuters daily, significantly reducing travel time across key economic corridors.

Decades of financial support

“Since the 1960s, Japan has been a committed partner to the Philippines, marking almost seven decades of robust bilateral relations,” Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said in a message, citing long-standing cooperation on projects such as the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway, NAIA Terminal 2 and the San Juanico Bridge.

Beyond transport, Japanese ODA continues to finance flood control systems in the Pasig-Marikina River basin, Cagayan de Oro and Cavite, strengthening disaster resilience in high-risk areas.