Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on former
Japanese International Cooperation Agency president
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Saturday feted former Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) president Sadako Ogata for her contributions to human development and
security in the Philippines.
President Aquino conferred on Ogata the Order of
Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu with gold distinction at the Imperial Hotel
here.
In his citation, he lauded her for facilitating
Official Development Assistance from Japan to the Philippines through JICA.
He also cited her for advancing peace in
Mindanao and contributing to the advancement of the bilateral strategic
partnership between the Philippines and Japan.
Ogata is an advisor to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and a special advisor to JICA president Akihiko Tanaka.
"I feel very overwhelmed by the generous
words you have spoken," Ogata told the President after the conferment.
For his part, the President told her the
citation "doesn't encompass everything you have done for our people."
PND (jl)
President Aquino meets with officials of major
Japanese firms
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Saturday afternoon met with officials of major Japanese companies
during his visit here.
The President met separately with officials of
Sumotomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., Nidec Sankyo Corp., and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking
Corp.
Representing Sumotomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. were
Nobumasa Kemori (chairman), Yoshiaki Nakazato (president), and Naoyuki Tsuchida
(director and senior managing executive officer).
Separately meeting with the President were
officials of Nidec Sankyo Corp. including Shigenobu Nagamori (chairman,
president and CEO), and Masahiro Nagayasu (general manager for investor
relations).
In the third meeting, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking
Corp. was represented by Takeshi Kunibe (president and CEO), Hiroshi Minoura
(deputy president), Yasuyuki Kawasaki (managing director), and Shosuke Mori
(general manager). PND (jl)
President Aquino attends gala dinner with ASEAN
leaders and their spouses
(TOKYO, Japan – via PLDT/Smart) President
Benigno Aquino III attended a gala dinner hosted by Japan Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe and wife Akie at the Imperial Hotel here before returning to the
Philippines Saturday.
The gala dinner was hosted by Abe to give opportunities
for the visiting Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) heads of state
and their respective spouses to interact with each other before heading back to
their respective countries.
The nation leaders flew to Japan for the
culmination of the year-long celebration of the 40th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative
Summit.
In his speech, Prime Minister Abe extolled the
year-long friendship of Japan with the ASEAN member countries, sharing with
them their "vision, identity and future."
He said Japan is looking forward to strengthen
and deepen ties with ASEAN countries noting how eager they are in hosting the
Olympics and Paralympics game in Tokyo in 2020.
“Here in Japan, we all have our eyes on seven
years from now. We aim to be outstanding as a people and as a nation,” he said.
“From Japan to ASEAN, from ASEAN to Japan,
exchanging cultures, exchanging people, the government of Japan will forge a
new cultural exchange policy for the next seven years in order to bring to life
a heart-to-heart connection on both sides,” he added.
Using the Japanese word “wa” meaning links and
peace, Abe said the cultural exchange policy would strengthen the “wa” that
exists between ASEAN nations.
The Prime Minister then offered a toast for the
40 years of ASEAN-Japan relations and “envisioned the glittering future between
us that 'wa' will create”.
The ASEAN leaders were presented with cultural
performances for their delight during the gala dinner. PND (jb)
Aquino: Many Japanese companies interested in
investing in the Philippines
A lot of Japanese companies are interested in
investing in the country’s infrastructure, energy, mining, and manufacturing
sectors, President Benigno S. Aquino III said after arriving from Japan Sunday
morning.
The President said he met with executives of
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Mitsubishi, Mitsui Banking Corp. and Nidec Sankyo
Corp. in his three-day stay in Japan.
“Kabilang po sa mga inaasahan nating lalago ay
ang mga sektor ng imprastraktura, enerhiya, mining, manufacturing, at siyempre,
iba pa po; na alam po nating mamumunga ng maraming trabaho at dagdag na
pagkakataon sa bawat Pilipino,” he said in his arrival speech at the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
One of those companies, which didn’t identify by
the President, is planning to invest $300 million for the expansion of its
operation in the Philippines.
There are also ongoing studies for possible
investment on a new manufacturing plant, research development facility, and
many others, he said.
“Napakasulit po talaga ang mga pagpupulong na
ating dinaluhan. Umaapaw po ang mga ito sa magagandang balita,” the President
said declining to specifically mention the projects.
“Sa pagtatayo at pagpapalawak ng negosyo ng mga
kumpanyang nakapanayam natin, tiyak na magiging hitik sa oportunidad ang mga
sektor na napakalaki ng ambag sa ating ekonomiya,” he added. PND (as)
Japan loan for new Coast Guard vessels approved
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the
$184-million loan to acquire 10 multi-role vessels from Japan as additional sea
assets of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is a done deal.
“Bago tayo lumipad pauwi, tuloy pa rin ang
pagdating ng good news. Nalagdaan na po ang $184 million na pautang mula sa
Japan International Cooperation Agency para makabili ng sampung Coast Guard
vessels na magbabantay sa ating mga baybayin,” the President said in his
arrival message at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 Sunday.
The President arrived from Japan after attending
the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.
The President said that he expects that after
the bidding process, the first shipment of the newly-acquired 40-meter
multi-purpose vessels will arrive in the country in 2015.
With the purchase of new vessels, the PCG could
upgrade its current fleet that will strengthen its task of defending the
country’s exclusive economic zone.
The new sea crafts, once turned over to the PCG,
will do patrols in several contested territories in the West Philippine Sea.
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P130-billion reconstruction fund nearly
completed with Japan's loan pledge, says President Aquino
The P130 billion needed by the Philippines to
rehabilitate devastated communities in the Visayas region is almost complete
with the help of Japan, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other
institutions, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Sunday.
In his message after arriving from Japan, the
President said that the Japanese government raised the country's standby loan
from $100 million to $500 million, nearly completing the fund needed for the
typhoon-ravaged areas in the Visayas region.
The President went to Japan this week to attend
the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit and other events.
“Ididiin ko lang po: sa biyaheng ito,
damang-dama talaga natin ang pagiging mabuting kaalyado at kaibigan ng bansang
Hapon,” the President said.
“Noong nakaraan sa pamamagitan ng kalakal at
Official Development Assistance, naramdaman natin ang kanilang suporta. Sa
kasalukuyan, kung saan hinaharap pa rin natin ang mga hamon dulot ng sakuna,
nariyan sila para iparamdam sa ating hindi tayo nag-iisa, at maging sa paghubog
ng magandang kinabukasan, kaagapay pa rin natin sila,”
The Japanese government is one of the major
donors for the country’s relief and recovery efforts. The President said that
prior to his trip to Japan this week, the Japanese government extended a $50
million assistance to the Philippines.
President Aquino also reported that in his
meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan will extend an
additional $66 million aid to the country for the immediate recovery of
typhoon-devastated areas.
Aside from the Japanese government, different
Japanese companies have pledged or extended assistance for the Philippines’s
reconstruction efforts. PND (as)
Philippines, Japan sign bilateral swap
arrangements
The Philippines and Japan agreed on a bilateral
swap arrangement through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Japan’s Ministry
of Finance to create a financial buffer for disaster response, Communications
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
“Ang kasunduang ito ay para magkaroon ng
liquidity buffer ang pamahalaang Pilipinas na maaaring kailanganin sa pagharap
sa malaking gastusin bunsod ng malawakang rekonstruksyon para sa mga lugar na
nasalanta ng sunud-sunod na kalamidad,” Coloma said during an interview over
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
Coloma was part of President Aquino’s entourage
for his attendance to the 40th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit last week.
Aside from the bilateral swap arrangement,
Coloma said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima signed the $184 million JICA
Official Development Assistance loan, which will be used for the purchase of 10
coast guard vessels.
The Philippine government will shell out P1.3
billion counterpart fund for the acquisition of the new sea crafts for the
coast guard, Coloma said.
In his arrival speech, the President said the
Japanese government has raised the $100 million standby loan to $500 million
for the recovery of the Visayas region.
Prior to the President’s Japan visit, Japan
extended more than $50 million aid to the Philippines. In his meeting with
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the President said the Japanese leader
pledged additional $66 million for the rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged areas
in the Visayas.
The Philippine government eyes to raise P130
billion to rehabilitate devastated communities in the Visayas region, the
President said. PND (as)
Philippines to join Disaster Risk Reduction
Meeting in Japan with enthusiasm
The Philippines will join the Third World
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction with enthusiasm in 2015, according to a
Palace official.
During a radio interview Sunday over dzRB Radyo
ng Bayan, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno
S. Aquino III asked fellow ASEAN countries to craft ways to lessen the impact
of natural calamities in ASEAN communities.
In his arrival statement Sunday, the President
said “respective nations cannot be caught in a vicious cycle of preparation,
devastation, and reconstruction.”
Typhoon Yolanda is a reminder to everyone for a
need to strengthen the capability of ASEAN nations to respond to calamities and
lessen the risks, Coloma said quoting the President.
The UN General Assembly said last year that
Japan will host the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015.
Year 2015 will also be the culmination of the
Millennium Development Goals and it is when the world will decide on a
post-2015 development agenda.
Governments will then be asked to give
appropriate consideration to disaster risk reduction in the post-2015
development agenda. PND (as)
