Maritime security tops agenda in Phl-Japan meeting

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is strongly considering the acquisition of multi-role response vessels to increase maritime safety following a meeting on Thursday between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and newly appointed Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

"On maritime security, the Japanese government has been assisting the Philippines in strengthening the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard through human resource development and augmentation of much needed communications system equipment for maritime safety. The acquisition of multi-role response vessels is undergoing serious consideration. There is also regular exchange of views and dialogue between officials of the two countries on maritime and ocean affairs," Del Rosario said in a statement published in the DFA website.

The Philippines and Japan recently figured in a row with China over disputed territories in the West Philippine and East China Seas.

"We had productive discussions on various important bilateral as well as regional issues, such as trade, investments, tourism, development assistance, people-to-people exchanges and maritime security and the Mindanao peace process," Del Rosario added.

He said the Philippines is looking forward to a stronger cooperation with Japan in developing the country's transportation and human resources in the public sector.

Del Rosario added that the country is looking into a possible collaboration with Japanese small- and medium-scale enterprises to promote investment.

Further, he said the Philippines is also studying short-term and long-term solutions in helping Filipino healthcare workers to be accepted in Japan.

"I thanked the Foreign Minister for Japan’s assistance in the Mindanao peace process. Since 2006, the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development contributed to the peace process through socio-economic infrastructure projects amounting to PhP 5.5 billion," Del Rosario said. Japan has also donated P21 million worth of emergency relief goods and P171 million worth of emergency grant aid to the Philippines to help victims of typhoon Pablo.

Japan is also the country's biggest trade partner with total trade of over $13 billion last year. The country is also the Philippines's top source of development loan assistance, Del Rosario said.