President to seek Japan’s help to rebuild Marawi

President Duterte is seeking Japan’s support for the massive rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, apart from strengthening economic and defense cooperation during his visit this week.

The President traveled to

Tokyo last night for a three-day visit that includes a flurry of meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Emperor Akihito of Japan, and businessmen.

Expected to arrive in Tokyo at 2:15 a.m., Duterte only has 12 hours before the start of his meetings in his second visit to the Land of the Rising Sun.

The President will be meeting first with Katsuyuki Kawai, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Member of the House of Representatives, in a courtesy call.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono will be paying a courtesy call on Duterte in the afternoon. This will be followed by the courtesy call of Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Duterte will then meet with Prime Minister Abe at the latter’s office, the Kantei, in Tokyo. This will be followed by the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and the two leaders’ joint press statement, the only event in the itinerary which is open for media coverage.

Following the joint press statement, Duterte will attend the dinner hosted by Abe.

Tomorrow, October 31, Duterte will confer the Order of Sikatuna, posthumously, on the late Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.

Duterte will also meet with Fumio Kishida, Chair of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy Research Council and former Foreign Minister, in a courtesy call.

Duterte will then meet with Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko. This will be the last event in Duterte’s itinerary.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Duterte’s visit is set to bolster the country’s relations with Japan.

Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan to Manila Takehiro Kano earlier reassured the Philippines of Japan’s commitment in its relations with the Philippines.

Among the topics expected to be discussed during the President’s visit is the Manila Subway Project or NorthSouth Commuter Lines.

“Japan and the Philippines share common values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law. So our bilateral relationship is robust across different administrations,” Kano had said.

“Japan welcomes the President’s visit and we look forward to seeing that this visit will further enhance bilateral relationship,” he added.

Expected to join the President in his trip are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Trade Secretary Mon Lopez and Duterte’s economic team to reinforce the Japan-Philippines economic partnership.

Incoming Presidential spokesman Harry Roque will be joining the Philippine delegation.

Fukuda merit Duterte is set to confer the Philippine national order of diplomatic merit to the late former PM Fukuda, the 42nd Japanese Prime Minister who served from Dec. 24, 1976 to Dec. 7, 1978. He died of chronic emphysema in the hospital of Tokyo Women’s Medical College on July 5, 1995 at the age of 90.

The Order of Sikatuna is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines. These include diplomats, officials, and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

Before Fukuda, the Order was conferred on Kiyoshi Sumiya, Ambassador from Japan to the Philippines; Akihito, the Crown Prince of Japan; Abe; and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

Most recently, Duterte conferred the Order of Sikatuna on Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa for his three-year service. Kazuhide concluded his stint as Japan’s top diplomat in the country early this month.

Prior to the scheduled conferment, the Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS) conferred the Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Philippines-Japan Relations on Fukuda in January, 1982.

The PJS Medal of Merit is its highest award to Filipino and Japanese nationals who have significantly contributed to nation-building in terms of the promotion of friendship, mutual benefit, mutual respect and closer, deeper, stronger relations between the two countries.

Fukuda was recognized by the PJS for his “exemplary efforts in the pursuit of the paramount objective of this Society and for his countless contributions to the growth of unity among the peoples of Asia.”