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JICA grants ¥329M to provide scholarships to Philippine gov’t officials


The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended a ¥329-million grant to the Philippines aimed at further developing human resources in the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, JICA said it signed the grant agreement with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last week.

The accord was signed by NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and JICA Philippines chief representative Azukizawa Eigo.

The grant will provide scholarships to Filipino government officials and give them an opportunity to learn from the Japanese experience and expertise in leading universities in Japan, according to JICA.

The grant forms part of the Japanese government’s Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Philippines that aims to help develop young leaders in government and boost efforts in socioeconomic development.

“The JDS is symbolic of the trusted partnership between JICA and the Philippines particularly in developing human resources who will eventually become leaders in policy and governance in the Philippines,” said Azukizawa.

Since its inception in 2002, JICA said the program has sent 399 Filipinos to leading Japanese universities such as University of Tokyo, International University of Japan, Hokkaido University, Hiroshima University, and Hitotsubashi University to name a few. 

The NEDA, for its part, said the pandemic underscored the need to enrich human capital and “help more Filipinos realize their full potential, especially those who aspire to become leaders in development.”

“JDS scholars learn from Japan’s best universities and institutions and eventually become ambassadors of goodwill between our nations. With COVID-19 imposing challenges in human capital development, the JDS is an opportunity for both our countries to build on our partnership and collectively develop a talent pool of future leaders who can contribute to inclusive growth and development,” said Azukizawa.

JICA said Filipino JDS scholars served as key-decision makers in their respective government agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Development Bank of the Philippines, and the NEDA, among others.—AOL, GMA News

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