NAKASUNGKIT ng pangako ang congressional delegation ng Pilipinas na pinamumunuan ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez mula sa mga opisyal ng Japanese parliament na kukuha ang Japan ng dagdag na mga Pilipinong manggagawa sa mga kritikal na sektor gaya ng elderly care.

Ang pangako ay nakuha sa isinagawang high-level discussions kasama si National Diet of Japan Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga at Vice-Speaker Banri Kaieda na ginanap sa Tokyo parliamentary building nitong Martes.

Sa naturang pagpupulong, kinilala ni Vice-Speaker Kaieda ang mga hamon na kinakaharap ng Japan at ang mahalagang kontribusyon ng mga Pilipino.

“Japan is facing a decrease in population, and in this regard, Japan truly appreciates the Filipinos working here, especially elderly care workers,” ani Vice-Speaker Kaieda.

“We are looking forward to welcoming more Filipinos to work in Japan,” dagdag pa nito.

Sinabi naman ni Speaker Romualdez ang potensyal na mapalakas pa ang kooperasyon ng dalawang bansa.

“The Philippines has a growing population, so we are more than happy for our people to come and work here after receiving the appropriate training,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

Makatutulong din umano ito upang magkaroon ng bagong kaalaman ang mga Pilipino sa teknolohiyang mayroon ang Japan.

“It creates an ideal environment for Japan to continue investing in the Philippines, not just in human resources but in Japanese-trained human resources, which will further promote economic cooperation between our countries,” sabi pa ng lider ng Kamara.

Sa kaparehong pagpupulong, nangako rin si Speaker Nukaga na ipagpapatuloy ang pagtulong sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Sinabi nito na mayroong 1,400 Japanese company na nag-o-operate sa Pilipinas.

“I will continue to cooperate with the Philippines to help uplift the Philippine economy,” sabi pa nito.

Nagpasalamat din si Speaker Romualdez sa patuloy na pagsuporta ng Japan sa mga Pilipino.

“We appreciate your efforts in securing, nurturing, and accepting our Filipinos who are in Japan,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

Mayroong mahigit 300,000 Pilipino na nakatira sa Japan kung saan nasa 164,000 ang nasa sektor ng caregiving, agriculture, hospitality, at manufacturing.

Kinilala rin ni Speaker Romualdez ang pagbibigay ng Japan ng suporta sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng official development fund (ODA).

“We thank the government and the people of Japan for all the support and assistance through the [ODA] and now through our official security agreement,” sabi pa ng lider ng Kamara.

“As the number one provider of [ODA], you have helped us in our economy in many aspects, and you have also been there for us in times of disaster and calamities,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez na mayroon ding mahalagang kontribusyon sa Pilipinas ang Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Ang makasaysayang kasunduan umano ng Estados Unidos, Japan, at Pilipinas ay lalo umanong nagpatibay sa samahan ng mga ito, ayon kay Speaker Romualdez.

“We are happy because this is a great lead-up to the celebration of 70 years of our diplomatic relations in 2026,” saad pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Bilang tugon, kinilala naman ni Speaker Nukaga ang matibay na relasyon ng Pilipinas at Japan.

“Japan and the Philippines have built a very good bilateral relationship,” sabi ni Nukaga. “Japan and the Philippines, both island nations, have a strong foundation to build good relations and friendly bridges.”

Kinilala rin ni Nukaga ang kahalagahan ng mga Pilipino sa Japan lalo na sa Ibaraki Prefecture na kanyang hometown.

“Ibaraki Prefecture’s Sakuragawa City and Sakai Town have sister city relations with Bacoor and Marikina, respectively, leading to about 7,000 Filipinos working in the prefecture. I would like to promote more local exchanges between our local authorities,” sabi pa nito.

Ayon kay Nukaga, na dating chair ng parliamentary group ng JICA at Minister of Finance, ang Pilipinas ang ikatlong pinakamalaking nakatatanggap ng ODA ng Japan, sunod sa India at Bangladesh.

Binigyan-diin din ni Nukaga ang kahalagahan ng relasyon ng Pilipinas, Japan, at Estados Unidos.

“The alliance between Japan and the United States is strong and built on trust. It is very important to promote cooperation among our three countries to ensure safe maritime transport and the safety and stability of the region,” wika pa ni Nukaga.

Binanggit din ni Nukaga ang joint maritime exercise ng Japan, US, Pilipinas at Canada kamakailan na isa umanong patunay ng kooperasyong ito.

Iginiit rin ni Nukaga ang kahalagahan ng prinsipyo ng seguridad, demokrasya, at pagsunod sa batas.

“The foundation of security, protecting and upholding democracy, and securing the international order is based on the rule of law,” dagdag pa nito.

Kasama sa pulong sina Japan Vice-Speaker Banri Kaieda, Japan House of Representatives International Affairs Department Director General Yamamoto Hironori, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Zaldy Co, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” S. Velasco, House Sergeant-at-Arms retired PMGEN Napoleon C. Taas, at iba pang opisyal ng Kamara.