Japan International Cooperation Agency - Philippines Office

IN PHOTOS: JICA Volunteers' First Look at the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR)

Recently, the JICA Volunteers, together with Senior Representative UENO Yoshiyuki, visited the ongoing construction sites of the Balagtas Station, Malanday Depot, and West Valenzuela Station of the NSCR. Through this visit, the volunteers had a glimpse of how Japanese technology and systems are being utilized in a JICA infrastructure project.

During the tour, the volunteers shared their thoughts, saying that the NSCR is expected to make public transportation more convenient and generate more jobs for Filipinos once completed.

After the visit, the volunteers expressed their appreciation for the dedication of all workers contributing to the completion of the project.

Going forward, the Philippines and Japan will maintain strong collaboration and partnership in championing more accessible and efficient transport systems in the Philippines.

👩🏻‍💻🌍♥️ 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

From May 28 to May 29, the JICA Volunteer Batch 183 conducted their Activity Planning Workshop together with their local partner institution counterparts from Iloilo Provincial Government, Numancia Municipal Government (Aklan), Dulag Central School (Leyte), Benguet State University and the Philippine Red Cross- La Union Chapter.

A few months into the volunteers’ deployment, the activity brought everyone together to reflect and map out what comes next. The workshop guided participants from gap identification to concrete plans for the next two years, fostering knowledge exchange and deeper collaboration.

JICA Philippines acknowledges the presence of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) for joining our JOCV volunteers in this workshop.

Together, we are excited to see these plans turn into fruitful services to the local community.

👨‍🏫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 🚉

Recently, JICA and the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI) conducted the 1st Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meeting for the Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) on Railway Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Development or “𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁” .

Through this new TCP, JICA and PRI aims to strengthen PRI’s capacity in line with the opening of its training center this year. Key outputs include new and updated training courses, digital transformation (DX) training, and capacity development in Japan for PRI’s training staff.

During the meeting, JICA, PRI, DOTr and the JICA Expert team jointly assessed the project’s goals, outputs, and activities. The DOTr was led by Undersecretaries TJ Batan and Anneli Lontoc, who updated the JCC on the emerging needs for the railway sector’s capacity development. JICA Senior Representative MORISHIMA Takanori shares that “

For this project, we have set an overall goal for the safe operation of urban railways and its contribution to sustainable economic development. [JICA] is confident that with the strong institutional foundation we have built, we will realize the project goals and outcomes”.

PRI Executive Director, Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc notes that “[We enter] Phase 2 with a renewed commitment and a more ambitious vision- to transform PRI into not just a training institution but a sustainable center of excellence, innovation, and safety culture in railway development”.

JICA continues to complement infrastructure projects with technical cooperations to advance high-quality, safe and sustainable transport system in the Philippines.

𝙅𝙄𝘾𝘼 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙢 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙡-𝘼𝙙𝙝𝙖.

May this Eid fill your life with endless blessings, joy, and peace. Eid Mubarak! 🌙

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 🌾🌾 🌾

The Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme (EDSP) officially kicked off with the successful convening of its 1st committee meeting on May 20,2026 at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Office, marking an important step toward supporting Filipino farmers by improving local rice processing systems (RPS).

Together with the Department of Agriculture - Philippines (DA), National Food Authority (NFA), and the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), the meeting brought partners together to align on plans for the establishment of a modern RPS in Cauayan City, Isabela.

The JPY 1.7 billion grant will support NFA’s modernization of rice postharvest and storage systems in the country through the provision of advanced postharvest equipment, including mechanical grain dryers, multi-stage rice mill, and grain silos at NFA Cauayan.

The meeting also formalized cooperation between the DA and JICS through the signing of an Agent Agreement, reinforcing a shared commitment to deliver infrastructure and systems that will benefit farmers and consumers alike.

🌱 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧: 𝙅𝙄𝘾𝘼 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 V𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙈

On May 7, 2026, JICA Philippines visited the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM), reaffirming a partnership that has spanned 45 years. Established in 1981 through Japan’s grant aid assistance, JICA’s cooperation with RITM has grown to strengthening its capacity to respond to evolving public health needs in the Philippines.

Together with JICA scholars based at the Institute, JICA and RITM continue to collaborate on key health initiatives, including the Japan–Philippines One Health Project (JAPOHR) and the Project for Strengthening the Philippine National Laboratory Network for Infectious Diseases (PheLNIDS).

Working together with the Department of Health and in close coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine, RITM supports national health efforts by turning research into timely, science-based policy. RITM remains at the forefront of the country’s response to health challenges, working for the well being of communities nationwide. And JICA remains a key partner in capacity-building in the institute through its various training and scholarship programs.

As Japan and the Philippines mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, JICA celebrates this long-standing partnership dedicated to strengthening research, disease surveillance, and public health resilience across the country.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐉𝐃𝐑 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 🇯🇵🤝🇵🇭

Today, the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team and the City Government of Navotas signed the Deed of Donation and Acceptance for two equipment units provided following the successful Japan Disaster Relief Mission. The signing was led by JDR Team Leader YOKOTA Naobumi and Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, underscoring their continued partnership in strengthening local disaster response.

The fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill was officially declared completely extinguished on May 10, (Monday) by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, recognizing the additional support provided by the Government of Japan, through the Japan Disaster Relief Operations.

The incident affected the 41‑hectare landfill and quickly raised serious concerns due to its scale and the resulting impact on Navotas City and nearby communities across Metro Manila. Upon the request of the Philippine government, the Japan Disaster Relief team arrived in Manila on April 23 to provide technical assessment and guide compaction and suppression efforts in the area. The week-long mission ended with a briefing on recommendations and next steps on the safe management of the closed sanitary landfill.

JICA reaffirms its solidarity with the Filipino people and its continued support for enhanced disaster risk reduction efforts across the country. Sama-sama tayo sa bayanihan!

📣 𝘽𝙚 𝙖 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨!

Eligible applicants are encouraged to take part in the 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼-𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 – 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗞𝗖𝗖𝗣 𝗬𝗟): 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗔), scheduled from 𝟭𝟳 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝟬𝟯 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝗸𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮, 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻!

The program focuses on waste management and water pollution control – strengthening urban environmental management. Successful participants will gain comprehensive understanding of Japan’s environmental policies, legal frameworks, and governance systems, as well as practical insights from local government initiatives. Through lectures, site visits, and discussions with Japanese stakeholders, participants will examine strategies to address environmental challenges and develop actionable measures applicable to their respective institutions.

👉 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟭𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

To learn more about the program, please visit the JICA website here: https://www.jica.go.jp/english/overseas/philippine/activities/assistance_schemes/training_and_scholarship_programs/short_term_programs/young_leaders/index.html

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂 𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔’𝘀 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼-𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (𝗞𝗖𝗖𝗣) 🇵🇭🇯🇵

JICA proudly sends off Engr. Mclister Abellera, a public servant from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), as he heads to Japan to pursue his Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba under JICA’s Climate Change Policy Program! 🎓

Engr. Abellera aims to empower local government units to create better climate action plans, unlock international climate funding, and build more resilient communities ready to face the challenges brought about by climate change. Ultimately, he envisions the Philippines to have a better climate governance system where LGUs are fully equipped, well supported, and unhindered by any barrier. 🤝

Engr. Abellera is the second Climate Change Policy Program scholar from the Philippines. Want to be the next JICA’s scholar? Learn more about JICA’s KCCP) here: https://www.jica.go.jp/english/overseas/philippine/activities/assistance_schemes/training_and_scholarship_programs/long_term_programs/index.html

𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔, 𝗗𝗢𝗙 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗘𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗥 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆. 🇯🇵🤝🇵🇭

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Finance (DOF) with implementing partners Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are taking a major step forward in climate action with the signing of the Record of Discussions for the Project on Strengthening Sustainability and Transparency Framework.

Signed by JICA Philippines Chief Representative BABA Takashi and DOF Secretary Frederick D. Go, this new technical cooperation project (TCP) is expected to begin within this 2026 and will run for three years to enhance systems and capacity for sustainable finance and transparency by refining disclosure frameworks, strengthening greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and reporting, and supporting the monitoring of climate-related initiatives.

This project forms part of JICA’s broader support for climate action in the Philippines over the years, including policy-based lending Climate Change Action Program - Subprogram 2, climate change advisory, TCPs on enhancing forest monitoring and inventory of hydropower potential sites, training and scholarship programs, private sector engagement, and disaster risk reduction and climate co-benefits efforts.

Together, we move forward toward a more climate-resilient, sustainable, and transparent future as we commemorate 70 years of bilateral cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. 🌱

Read more here: https://www.jica.go.jp/english/information/press/2026/20260416_12.html