DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                               Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-473-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      08 July 2005

RP, JAPAN SIGN NOTES ON 2 GRANT-AID PROJECTS

8 July 2005 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo and Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki signed and exchanged notes on two grant assistance projects worth ¥445 million (US$4 million) on 8 July 2005, part of the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) project administered by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) under the auspices of the Japanese Government’s Grant-Aid Program.

Secretary Romulo said that the JDS provides “Filipino students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge,” and that “Filipino scholars can likewise share with their Japanese professors and classmates their creative ideas and unique experiences in their respective fields.” (Please refer to the separate press release on Secretary Romulo’s remarks)

The first grant of ¥101 million will cover the first and second batches of the JDS Project for the period of 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006, while the second grant of ¥344 million will cover the fourth batch of the JDS Project for the fourth year of implementation which covers Term I (period between the date of entry into force of the present agreement and 31 March 2006); Term II (1 April 2006 – 31 March 2007); Term III (1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008); and Term IV (1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009).

The fields of study made available to the scholars are public administration, economics, business adminstration, public health and information technology.

Secretary Romulo expressed the country’s appreciation for the Japanese Government’s support for the Phlippines’ development strategies, and that the grant “has proven once again that Japan is a true friend of the Philippines in all aspects of the relations between our two countries.

For his part, Ambassador Yamazaki stated that in meetings with previous JDS scholars, he was “greatly impressed” with their intelligence, and was confident that the continuing JDS program will be a “bridge” for a further strengthening of ties between Japan and the Philippines.

The signing ceremony held at the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs was attended by officials from the DFA, NEDA, Department of Finance and the Embassy of Japan.  END