Japan Grants 1.1 Billion Yen to Philippine Coast Guard for Maritime Law Enforcement

Japan has extended a 1.1 billion yen grant (about P432 million) to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to enhance its maritime law enforcement capabilities and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Additionally, Tokyo has provided a 30-billion yen loan (over P11.8 billion) to support communities affected by recent typhoons. The loan facility and grant project were formalized through the signing of an Exchange of Notes (EoN) between Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. The loan, known as Phase 3 of the Post Disaster Stand-by Loan, aims to aid the Philippines’ calamity response programs under highly concessional terms. The repayment period is set at 30 years after a grace period of 10 years, with a fixed interest rate of 0.01 percent per annum. Japan has been providing budgetary support to the Philippines since 2013, initially assisting in the recovery from Typhoon Yolanda and later extending support for COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The grant project focuses on the PCG Satellite Data Communication System (SDCS), which, when completed, is expected to enhance the PCG’s maritime domain awareness and law enforcement capabilities. This will contribute to the economic and social development of the Philippines, strengthen cooperation in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and its surrounding areas, and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa expressed optimism for the close relationship between Japan and the Philippines, highlighting the flourishing defense and security cooperation since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022. He also mentioned the signing of the Terms of Reference on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the Philippines, which will further enhance future defense cooperation between the two countries.

Reference Source: Google News .