Sara Duterte holds education-related activities during Japan trip

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte conducted several education-related activities during her visit in Japan on September 26 to 27, as the Philippines’ Special Envoy to the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Office of the Vice President said Thursday that Duterte visited an elementary school in Japan and met with officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

They discussed matters on blended learning, values and skill formation, STEM education, and COVID-response, the OVP said.

Duterte brought with her Grade 9 student Trix, and her mother, Jen, from Dinalupihan, Bataan, to join her in her official activities in Japan.

Jen was invited on the two-day trip as part of the “You Can Be VP” project of the OVP “to inspire learners to dream big and aim high.” 

During the visit, Duterte also met with several Japanese officials and paid a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The Japan Embassy in the Philippines said Tuesday that Kishida committed to further strengthen the Japan and Philippines relations under the Marcos administration.

He also relayed to Duterte Japan's plan to facilitate the improvement of agricultural and fisheries value chains and the collection of small arms and light weapons in Mindanao, as well as render educational support for junior government officers of the Philippines to study in Japan.

The OVP said Duterte also met with some members of the Filipino community.

Duterte went to Japan to attend Abe's state funeral on Tuesday, September 27.

The OVP said she was accompanied by a delegation of four Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), and one OVP staff member.

They arrived back in the Philippines on Wednesday morning. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA News