By Robina Asido

Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kitagawa Katsuro signed and exchanged diplomatic notes for the transfer of Japan's largest Official Security Assistance (OSA) grant, which includes a military-grade coastal surveillance radar system for the Philippine Navy.

In a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City on Monday, Kitagawa noted that the grant also includes the transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) or surveillance drones for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

"Today's grant, amounting to 4.3 billion yen or 1.723 billion pesos, is the largest OSA grant since the framework's establishment, as well as the first defense equipment transfer under Japan's OSA program," he said.

Kitagawa noted that "the Philippines has been the only country to receive Japan's OSA assistance for four years in a row since its launch in 2023".

"I hope these will be of great help in safeguarding vital sea lanes through enhancing the maritime domain awareness and surveillance capabilities of the Philippines," he stressed.

"As a peace-loving nation, Japan continues to support the effort of like-minded partners in enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities in order to prevent unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

In her speech, Lazaro expressed her gratitude to the Japanese government as she emphasized that "since the establishment of the OSA mechanism in 2023, Japan has continuously extended support for the enhancement of Philippine defense and security posture."

"It appears that capacity building efforts by the Philippines are investments in regional peace and stability. And it carries forward the milestones that our two nations, our two countries, have reached in this important pillar of relations in recent years," she said.

"To Japan, our steadfast partner, we thank you for your unwavering support and friendship," she added.

Lazaro and Kitagawa also signed and exchanged notes for an infrastructure project to improve the water supply system in Cotabato City.

According to the DFA, the project is another "grant aid funded by the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), amounting to 3.644 billion yen or 1.46 billion pesos."

"The project aims to increase the water supply population and coverage rate in the Tamontaka area in Cotabato City through the construction of a waterworks facility and procurement of equipment for the expansion of the Tamontaka Water Treatment Plant," it stated.

Kitagawa said the improvement of "water supply system project in Cotabato City is expected to benefit underserved communities, promote public health and support local economic activity and investment."

"The project holds particular significance for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which recently inaugurated its first regular parliament following a historic election in the long-standing Mindanao peace process," he added.

Last February, Japan transferred five coastal surveillance radar systems to the Philippines in a ceremony led by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and former Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Endo Kazuya. PHS