Japan to give military equipment, jobs to Philippines

During the bilateral meeting between the two countries, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Japan will make a further contribution to peace and stability by providing the Coast Guard with new patrol vessels and transferring military equipment.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Japanese Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura said that details on the equipment and the date of release are still under discussion.

Kawamura also could not affirm if the equipment would be in the form of a loan or donation.

He also said that the Abe would be closely watching the developments of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China over the South China Sea.

Abe warned against any move that could disrupt the “status quo” over the disputed territory. He also stressed that Japan supports a peaceful settlement of the issue that is based on the rule of law.

Job creation, railway project

Kawamura also said that Japan would open its doors to domestic helpers this year.

In particular, the country would be hiring household workers for Kanagawa and Osaka prefectures.

However, Kawamura could not say how many would be hired and noted that it would depend on the demand in the two areas.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government committed 241.991 billion in yen equivalent about P93.457 billion as loan for the North-South Commuter Railway Project.

Cooperation

Abe cited the increasing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, with a series of visits by the two countries’ leaders—President Aquino’s state visit to Japan last year; Abe’s visit to the Philippines this year, which included the seventh meeting between him and Mr. Aquino, and the visit of the Japanese Emperor and Empress to Manila early next year.

During their meeting on Thursday night, Abe and Mr. Aquino signed an agreement for the development of a $2-billion railway connecting Manila and Bulacan province and a deal that would resolve the double enrollment of expatriates in pension plans.

On top of these, Japan agreed to facilitate the employment of Filipino domestic workers in Japan and to provide $121.9 million for agricultural projects in Mindanao.

 

Source: CNN Philippines