PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday pushed for the promotion of educational tourism between Japan and the Philippines with special focus on the exchange of students.
The President, addressing a roundtable meeting with tourism stakeholders in Tokyo, invited Japanese students to study English in the country as he said the Philippines’ educational tourism would focus on the exchange of students and professionals in tourism-related institutions.
“Filipinos are known to be the citizens of the world. Filipinos have a fluency in English that is recognized to be one of our main leverages, one of our main selling points in terms of educational tourism. It makes it easy for us to work and communicate in other countries.
And where else can you learn English better than in the Philippines?” he said.
The President said his administration is banking on the tourism industry to become one of the country’s economic drivers and is exerting efforts to improve areas that have the potential to help the country grow.
He said the Philippines is on its way to recovery as 2.65 million foreign visitors have visited the country last year, exceeding the government’s target of 1.7 million.
Japan, as of January 30, was sixth among foreign visitors.
Marcos said the country looks to Japan’s support as the Japanese, like Filipinos, have a “unique appreciation and preservation of our culture, our traditions, and our heritage,” deeply rooted in their consciousness.
The President said the Philippines is also not just limiting its efforts to promoting the tourism sector but it is also ensuring that travel in the country is “convenient, connected, and equal for travelers, but as well as for locals who are living and preserving our invaluable key and emerging tourist destinations.”
“With this in mind, this government has set the direction to harness the development of tourism in key tourism destinations. Through this, we will make sure that hard and soft infrastructure is well-developed, from roads and bridges to medical facilities, clean water supplies, and readily accessible for tourists and locals alike,” he added.
Prior to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the tourism industry contributed 12.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
AGRIBUSINESS
The President, in a media interview Wednesday while en route to his five-day working visit to Japan, said his government is also looking at attracting more agri-business investments from Japan.
“Well, number one, that opens up hindi lamang (not only) the usual exchange of technology, but that’s an important part of it, but also investment in agriculture and hopefully opening markets in Japan for our agricultural products,” he said.
An agricultural cooperation agreement is among key deals expected to signed during Marcos’ official visit to Japan.
Japan is the only country with which the Philippines has a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) called the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA.
In 2021, Japan was the Philippines’ second largest trading partner as well as the third largest export market and second top source of imports.
PEACE, SECURITY
Marcos underscored the importance of the support given by the Japanese government to the Philippines’ peace process efforts, especially in Mindanao.
Marcos, during a courtesy call on the members of the Japanese parliament, thanked Japan for its unwavering support to the Philippine peace process and countless development assistance.
He said the Japanese have been a critical part of the Philippines’ peace process.
“It is a process that we have been undertaking for many, many years and I think, and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, the participation of the Japanese support in that peace process has been invaluable,” he said.
The President recognized the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) program, which involves long-term support for governance, decommissioning and socio-economic development; Japan’s inclusion in the International Monitoring Team, the International Contact Group, and the Independent Commission on Policing.
The President invited the members of the Japanese parliament to visit the Philippines to see the results of the assistance Japanese is continuously giving to the Philippines.
He also thanked the Japanese government for providing Filipinos living and working in Japan “a very good life.”
NO VFA TALKS
Marcos said there are no formal talks yet between Manila and Tokyo for a visiting forces agreement (VFA).
Despite the absence of a VFA, Marcos said, Japan has been helping the Philippine Coast Guard in terms of capacity-building, which includes providing equipment, that may soon result in the improvement or rehabilitation of the Coast Guard headquarters in Subic.
“Naturally, the reason behind all this is they would like to have more patrols along… South China Sea so we can assure the freedom of passage,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is part of Marcos’ delegation, said the meeting between Marcos and the Japanese prime minister should be an opportune time “to finally go into initial talks” on the possible forging of a VFA.
He said he “brought up the idea of pursuing a VFA with Japan” when he had the chance to speak with Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko last year.
“It makes strategic sense. Japan is an ally, and with ongoing territorial disputes over our waters, we stand to benefit from stronger security cooperation with our allies… Japan is already offering vital support to our Coast Guard, not just through vessels and equipment but also through other capacity-building opportunities such as training,” Zubiri said.
AGREEMENTS
Marcos’ Cabinet officials led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno signed several key agreements and documents with their Japanese counterparts, including on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture and digital cooperation.
Among those signed were on the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project (II) and Malolos to Tutuban Project (II).
Defense Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., signed with his Japanese counterpart the Umbrella Term of Reference (TOR) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Cooperation while Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban signed with Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries a memorandum of cooperation on agriculture.
Marcos and First Lady Lisa Marcos had an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
On Friday, the President will address the Philippine Economic Briefing organized by his economic team as the country seeks to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, including economic and defense cooperation.
JOBS FOR OFWS
Citing concerns from both employers and employees, the Department of Migrant Workers said it is looking at improving the chances of more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) gaining jobs in Japan.
“We will look into these bottlenecks and obstacles and try to untangle them one by one.
Japan has proven to be a reliable partner in overseas employment,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople who is part of Marcos’ official delegation.
She also said a major challenge faced by Filipinos is hurdling the language proficiency test while already working in Japan.
This, she said, is why they are looking to enhance the Preparatory Japanese-Language Training program, which is a language learning intervention mechanism that requires candidates to undergo a six-month intensive training on Japanese language basics.
Passing the Japanese language proficiency program allows a worker to qualify under the Special Skilled Worker program, where he must either pass Japanese language and the skills exams corresponding to his chosen industry, or have practical experience in the industry in the form of previous technical intern training experience or a minimum of three years of technical intern training. — With Raymond Africa and Gerard Naval
