Davao City recently welcomed a delegation led by former Consul General of Japan in Davao and former Ambassador of the Solomon Islands, Mr. Miwa Yoshiaki, along with his brother, Mr. Miwa Toyoaki. Their courtesy call to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte at the Arcadia Event Center on February 18 marked a significant step in enhancing educational and C between Japan and the city.
As the current president of the Mindanao-Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJ-STeP), Mr. Yoshiaki emphasized their commitment to fostering education, particularly in the fields of science and technology. MJ-STeP, founded by Mr. Toyoaki, aims to support academic and research exchanges while driving industrial growth in the Philippines and beyond.
A key highlight of their visit was the announcement of scholarship opportunities for outstanding master’s and doctoral degree candidates in science and engineering. These scholarships, which last from two to three years, provide scholars with the chance to study at prestigious Japanese institutions, including Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, Tohoku University, and the Institute of Science Tokyo. Additionally, MJ-STeP extends support to Japanese language teachers from Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD) for further studies at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
Four universities in Davao have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MJ-STeP: the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao), the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP). These partnerships will help solidify academic ties and advance research cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
Beyond education, Mr. Yoshiaki expressed keen interest in promoting business matching in Davao City. He emphasized that such initiatives could unlock new economic opportunities, spur innovation, and create jobs, ultimately bolstering the city’s competitiveness and prosperity.
Moreover, MJ-STeP pledged support for various development projects in Davao City, including improving cacao production, advancing renewable energy solutions, enhancing waste management, and implementing flood-control measures.
Mayor Duterte warmly welcomed these initiatives, emphasizing their potential to boost food security and agribusiness in the city. “I want my people to be fed, educated, and also healthy. I’d like to focus more on agriculture and promote agribusiness, as this can generate revenue because we still have so much land that we can utilize,” he stated.
City Mayor’s Office Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Atty. Jonah Presto, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that agricultural projects be piloted on a 15-hectare site in Malabog, Paquibato, where soil analysis and crop rotation efforts could begin.
With Japan and Davao City sharing a long-standing history of friendship and cooperation, this renewed commitment to education, economic collaboration, and sustainable development signals a promising future for both parties.
