In a continued show of support for the Philippines’ development goals, Japan has committed a grant worth JPY 389 million (approximately P150 million) to fund graduate studies for young Filipino government employees.
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo formalized the agreement during a signing and note exchange ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters on 25 April.
The funding, provided under The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), will enable 20 Filipino civil servants to pursue master’s degrees at top universities in Japan beginning Academic Year 2026–2027.
The initiative is part of Japan’s long-standing support for the Philippines’ human resource development programs, aiming to strengthen governance by enhancing the skills and expertise of public sector professionals. Since 2002, a total of 459 Filipino fellows have benefited from the JDS program.
Officials emphasized that returning scholars are expected to play key roles in policy making and public administration, contributing to the country’s national development efforts.
