DND to work with JICA in identifying maritime security projects

THE DEPARTMENT of National Defense (DND) has committed to working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in identifying maritime security cooperation projects in the country.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. made this remark during Thursday's meeting with JICA's delegation headed by its Director General Tanaka Hiroo at the DND main office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

In a statement, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the meeting tackled how the Japanese government, through the Official Development Assistance and Official Security Assistance (OSA), could further contribute to enhancing the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities amid the evolving security challenges in the region.

Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko and other officials of the Japanese Embassy in Manila also joined the meeting.

"Highlighting the importance of sustaining regional peace and stability, Secretary Teodoro reaffirmed the DND and AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) full commitment to working with JICA in identifying maritime security cooperation projects while adopting a holistic approach to address traditional and non-traditional security concerns for long-term economic development," Andolong said.

During the state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the Philippines in November last year, Manila and Tokyo signed and exchanged notes on Japan’s grant of coastal surveillance radars to the Philippines worth 600 million yen (about PHP226 million) through the OSA.

"Secretary Teodoro also encouraged the JICA delegation to engage with relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others, and Local Government Units to further capacitate not just the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy, but also maritime law enforcement agencies and Filipino fisherfolks," Andolong said.

The meeting ended with a possible cooperation between Manila and Tokyo on information sharing, hardware and software support, and technical assistance, he added. (Priam Nepomuceno)