Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura led the Send-Off C elebration for the 8th Batch of Fellows of the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Project on 4 June 2010 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan and other members of the JDS Operating Committee were also in attendance.
A total of 20 Fellows comprise the 8 th Batch. Since the project started in 2002, Filipino scholars have been sent to Japan annually to pursue a two-year Master's Degree on selected fields such as Economics, Information and Communication Technology, Public Administration, Industrial Development, and Business Administration in major host universities in Japan. The project aims to enhance the scholars' expertise and help build a pool of future leaders who will contribute positively to the country's overall economic development by returning to and working in the Philippines.
Ambassador Katsura mentioned in his speech his belief that the JDS fellows “will all be leaders” in the development of their country, “and also a bridge in the strengthening of the friendly and cooperative ties between Japan and the Philippines.
The JDS Project, a scholarship project financed by the Government of Japan through its Official Development Assistance – Grant Aid Program, has been implemented in 12 countries including the Philippines since its inception. To date, the Philippines has a total of 179 JDS Fellows, including this year's batch.
Speech of Ambassador Makoto Katsura
Japanese Version
