Japan remains Philippines’ top ODA source
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya. Photo courtesy of the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
MANILA, Philippines — Tokyo will continue to send volunteer development workers to the Philippines as Japan remains Manila’s biggest source of official development assistance, or ODA, as of 2024.
Endo Kazuya, Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines, said in a statement that after their government, the Philippines’ second biggest source of ODA was the Japan-led Asian Development Bank.
“Japan’s involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway, and the Davao City Bypass, has also signaled its role in the country’s development,” Endo said.
Beyond the flow of funds, the ambassador said Japan was also very active in sending over people who engage in activities that directly impact local communities.
“Among our most enduring partnerships, the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) have walked alongside us for decades in our shared journey toward progress,” he said.
The JOCV program started in 1965 as one of the programs managed by the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency. This agency is a precursor of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
The JOCV’s inaugural dispatch involved a total of 29 volunteers sent to five countries. The Philippines received the biggest group, with 12 volunteers. The rest of the first batch went to Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Kenya.
“With future deployments focusing on human resource development, industry growth, and disaster risk reduction, we can expect to share more stories and triumphs together,” Endo said.
In a separate statement — citing data from the Philippines’ Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) — VJica said Japan in 2024 contributed $13.23 billion. This was about a third of the Philippines’ total ODA portfolio.
In 2024, Japan supported 82 active loans and grants.
Jica’s priority areas in the Philippines are sustainable economic growth, human security for inclusive development, and peace and development in Mindanao.
“From commuters navigating Metro Manila’s traffic to farmers in Mindanao bringing produce to market, Japan’s development assistance, channeled through Jica, has real, everyday impact,” the agency said. —Ronnel W. Domingo
