Japan commits PHP 134 million for scholarship project

On 28 May 2026, Ambassador ENDO Kazuya and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro signed an Exchange of Notes (E/N) for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) during the State Visit of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Japan. (https://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea2/ph/pageite_000001_00012.html)  

The grant, amounting to JPY 356 million (approximately PHP 134 million*), will support the master’s degree and doctoral degree education of 19 young Filipino government officers for the 2027 to 2028 academic year at leading universities in Japan. 

The JDS is part of Japan’s continuing support for the human resource development initiatives of the Philippines. It aims to strengthen the expertise of Filipino professionals in their respective fields, enabling them to contribute further to national development. Since 2002, Japan has supported a total of 479 JDS Fellows from the Philippines.  

Further details about the JDS program may be viewed through the following webpages: 

JDS Philippines 
https://jds-scholarship.org/country/philippines/index.html 

Japan International Cooperation Agency 
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/activities/schemes/grant_aid/types_jds.html 

*From BSP: PHP-JPY Exchange Rate = .3784 (April 2026 Average)