Marawi rehab on list of DU30’s Japan visit
MANILA — The Mega Manila Subway Project and the rehabilitation of Marawi City will be among the topics to be discussed during the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Japan by the end of October.
In a Palace briefing yesterday, Japanese Deputy Head of Mission Takehiro Kano said that Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might also tackle South China Sea disputes and nuclear issues of North Korea.
Duterte will visit Tokyo on October 29 to 31 to meet with Abe and other highranking officials to enhance the “strategic partnership” between the two nations.
Kano described the relationship between the Philippine and Japan as “robust.”
“Japan and the Philippines share the common values such as freedom, democracy and rule of law so our bilateral relationship is robust across different administrations,” he said.
Kano clarified that there has been no announcement yet if Duterte will meet with Emperor Akihito of Japan.
Duterte’s visit to Japan came after Abe’s ultra-conservative Liberal Democratic Party scored a fresh election victory.
Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said that DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Department of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez and other economic managers will join Duterte in Japan.
Duterte visited Japan in October last year, which was capped by investment pledges worth $1.8 billion.
After lauding the efforts of the Philippine government to put a conclusion to Marawi siege, Kano said that Japan is considering the ways on how to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-torn city.
In September, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that Japan has pledged P100 million for Marawi rehabilitation.
“So far, we have provided some humanitarian assistance. But right now, we are in a different phase and we are in a close contact with the Philippine government,” he said.