JAPAN has committed 327 million yen (P121 million) to fund the graduate studies of young Filipino civil servants starting in the academic year 2025-2026.

Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo inked the Exchange of Notes on the "Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS)" on May 17 for the Philippine government worker's scholarship project.

The JDS is a part of Japan's assistance for the Philippines' human resource development programs; it aims to increase the JDS Fellows' proficiency in their disciplines so that they can further the growth of their country.

In his speech, Ambassador Endo said, "Upon their return, they are hoped to become future leaders helping lead social and economic development policies for the Philippines, and serve as a bridge to Japan and other nations."

He said that since the JDS began accepting students from the Philippines in 2002, 439 young officials have studied in Japan, most now holding key positions in the Philippine government.

"We are optimistic that this signing will sustain and further strengthen the bilateral relations between our two countries," Endo said.

For the academic year 2025-2026, some 20 civil servants will be awarded scholarships to study at premier universities in Japan.

Further details about the JDS program may be viewed on the webpages of JDS Philippines at https://jds-scholarship.org/country/philippines/index.html and of the Japan International Cooperation Agency at https://www.jica.go.jp/english/activities/schemes/grant_aid/types_jds.html.

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