OVER the past decades, Japan has emerged as a stalwart partner in the Philippine journey toward economic and infrastructure development. The strategic collaboration between the two countries has not only strengthened the diplomatic ties between them. It has also paved the way for transformative projects that have boosted our country's progress. These various development initiatives have had an enduring impact on the socioeconomic landscape of the archipelago.

Japan's commitment to fostering economic growth in the Philippines is seen through various initiatives. The Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement, established in 2008, has played a pivotal role in facilitating trade and development between the two nations. It has not only expanded market access but also paved the way for technology transfer, thus contributing to an enhanced industrial landscape.

One of Japan's most visible contributions here is in the field of infrastructure development, which have seen the implementation of significant projects to modernize transportation, energy and water management systems.

The Metro Manila Subway Project, funded by a $2.3 billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is aimed at unclogging the traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR). It will also hasten connectivity between the 13 cities and towns of the NCR.

Japan's support extends to the construction of vital bridges and highways such as the Davao City Bypass Construction Project and the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project. These infrastructure projects will not only improve connectivity but also stimulate economic activities in the regions, fostering inclusive growth and fanning progress out of the capital.

Recognizing the Philippines' vulnerability to natural disasters, which it shares because of a similar geographic location, Japan has been actively involved in supporting disaster resilience and disaster risk reduction initiatives. The establishment of early warning systems, community-based disaster risk reduction systems, and the provision of state-of-the art equipment for disaster response are some of the ways in which Japan has contributed to enhancing Philippine capacity to mitigate and respond to natural calamities.

With our record-shattering typhoons and flooding, Japan has helped alleviate the effects of these calamities on Filipinos. It is one of the first countries in the world to offer help to the Philippines when disaster strikes. It was already sending thousands of sacks of rice to the Philippines just as the flooding was about to recede in the Visayas and Mindanao after Super Typhoon "Odette" cut a wide swath of destruction in the two major island groups in December 2022.

Moreover, Japan's commitment to human capital development in the Philippines is shown through various scholarship and vocational training programs. Scholarship exchange programs and collaborative initiatives between educational institutions have empowered the Filipino youth. Generations of Filipino scholars have benefited from grants that allowed them to study in Japanese universities — which are among the best in the world — and bring back the fruits of that training and knowledge exchange back to the Philippines. The nurturing of human resources is a sustainable investment that ensures the long-term prosperity of the Philippines.

Beyond the economic and infrastructure collaboration, Japan has also emphasized cultural and people-to-people exchanges. These projects foster mutual understanding and strengthen the bond between the two nations. Cultural festivals, language exchange programs, and youth exchanges have all played a role in deepening the ties between the Filipinos and the Japanese.

With the demographics winter in Japan, where there are more and more old people and fewer young Japanese to take care of them, Japan has also opened its doors to Filipino nurses — some of the best and bravest in the world.

However, some problems remain. Japan has refused to apologize for what its Imperial Army did to the Filipino comfort women, who were forced to become sex slaves of the Japanese soldiers during World War 2. Japan has also shut the door to citizenship to descendants of Japanese and Filipino liaisons before and during the war. This seeming xenophobia has to be examined in light of that country's cultural history and way of dealing with foreigners through the centuries.

Be that as it may, as we reflect on the past decade, we can see that Japan has been a steadfast ally of the Philippines in its pursuit of progress. It has funded elevators and escalators in the MRT stations, saved lives in calamities, and is now building a subway that would give relief to millions of Metro Manilans every day.