Picture from Speaker Romualdez’s Fb web page.
MANILA, Philippines — Extra Filipinos can be employed by the Japanese authorities in essential sectors, Home of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez stated after assembly with Japan’s officers in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Romuladez, in an announcement, stated he was in a position to safe the dedication of their counterparts within the Nationwide Weight-reduction plan of Japan, significantly throughout high-level discussions with Japanese Speaker Nukaga Fukushiro and Vice-Speaker Kaieda Banri.
Romualdez stated Kaieda acknowledged Japan’s demographic challenges — just like the lower in inhabitants — and the way Filipino staff have contributed to addressing these challenges.
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“Japan is dealing with a lower in inhabitants, and on this regard, Japan actually appreciates the Filipinos working right here, particularly aged care staff,” Kaieda stated.
“We’re trying ahead to welcoming extra Filipinos to work in Japan,” he added.
Romualdez, in the meantime, emphasised the potential for enhanced cooperation between the 2 nations, significantly in upskilling the labor drive.
“The Philippines has a rising inhabitants, so we’re very happy for our individuals to return and work right here after receiving the suitable coaching,” the Speaker stated.
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“It creates a really perfect surroundings for Japan to proceed investing within the Philippines, not simply in human sources however in Japanese-trained human sources, which can additional promote financial cooperation between our nations,” he added.
Other than hiring Filipino staff, Nukaga stated Japan will even constantly assist the Philippine financial system’s progress, with 1,400 Japanese corporations working in Southeast Asia.
The Japanese Speaker additionally acknowledged the numerous presence of Filipinos in his hometown of Ibaraki Prefecture.
“I’ll proceed to cooperate with the Philippines to assist uplift the Philippine financial system,” Nukaga stated.
“Ibaraki Prefecture’s Sakuragawa Metropolis and Sakai City have sister metropolis relations with Bacoor and Marikina, respectively, resulting in about 7,000 Filipinos working within the prefecture. I want to promote extra native exchanges between our native authorities,” he added.
Each leaders of the respective nations’ legislature stated the assembly and the vow for a stronger cooperation bodes effectively for the celebration of the Philippines and Japan’s diplomatic relations.
READ: Romualdez: Jobs secured in Japan not mere quantity however method out of poverty for Filipinos
“We’re completely satisfied as a result of this can be a nice lead-up to the celebration of 70 years of our diplomatic relations in 2026,” Romualdez stated.
“Japan and the Philippines have constructed an excellent bilateral relationship […] Japan and the Philippines, each island nations, have a powerful basis to construct good relations and pleasant bridges,” Nukaga replied.
Romualdez and a number of other rating lawmakers from the Home are in Japan for a gathering with their counterparts on numerous points involving the 2 nations. Earlier, the Speaker stated the connection between the Philippines and Japan is at an all-time excessive, due to the strategic partnership of the 2 Asian nations when it comes to improvement and safety preparations.
Among the many protection and improvement packages that Romualdez cited have been the availability of Y600 million-worth of protection help beneath the Official Safety Help (OSA), signed final November 3, 2023 when Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visited the Philippines.
Romualdez additionally thanked Japan for shielding the 300,000 Filipinos within the stated nation, which incorporates abroad Filipino staff (OFWs).
“Now we have very robust diplomatic relations, significantly involving protection and financial ties. We specific our deep appreciation for Japan’s function in securing, nurturing, and accepting over 300,000 Filipinos who reside right here,” he stated.
“Our nations have frequently engaged with one another since final yr, a transparent indication of the agency dedication of each our nations to our decades-long cooperation,” he added.
Other than Romualdez and Nukaga, different Home officers led by Secretary Basic Velasco additionally held discussions with their counterparts, significantly with Japanese Home of Representatives Worldwide Affairs Division Director Basic Yamamoto Hironori, to change greatest practices for a extra environment friendly legislative work.
Velasco stated that the assembly underscored the dedication of each nations to strengthen parliamentary cooperation.
Among the many greatest practices mentioned within the assembly, Velasco stated, have been digital transformation of legislative processes, efficient public session mechanisms, and methods for enhancing legislative oversight.