Metro Manila, Philippines — Japan is giving the Philippines ₱235 million for its maritime security, and another ₱334 million for disaster response in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM.
The deals were signed after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who’s on an official two-day visit in Manila.
The Presidential Communications Office said the military aid—signed through Japan’s Official Security Assistance or OSA—is intended to boost the efforts of the Department of National Defense “by securing coastal radars for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enhance their maritime domain awareness and security.”
Meanwhile, the agreement to mitigate the impact of flooding aggravated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region was signed under Non-Project Grant Aid or NPGA
“Today, key agreements have been signed that will propel the momentum of our bilateral relations in the next coming years,” Marcos said Friday.
“As leaders of like-minded states, we affirm our commitment to peaceful negotiations to resolve maritime conflicts and the need for a stable and secure environment,” the president added.
The two leaders also signed a deal on tourism cooperation.
In a statement on Friday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the agreement will increase tourist arrivals for both countries, attract more tourism investments, and create additional jobs for Filipinos.
“This will exponentially expand tourism opportunities with the Japanese, which is one of our top source markets,” she said.
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