The Japanese government is providing a PHP127 million scholarship fund for young Filipino civil servants who want to pursue graduate studies in Japan next year.

On June 23, Japan Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo formally signed the Exchange of Notes for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS).

“Glad to have signed with Japan the diplomatic notes for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship 2024-2025, worth PHP127.2 million. This initiative will empower young leaders from Philippine government agencies to pursue grad studies in Japan as JDS fellows,” Manalo said upon signing at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Twenty young Filipino government employees will benefit from the grant that will allow them to earn their master’s degree at premier universities in Japan starting academic year 2024-2025.

The JDS program is part of Japan’s assistance to the human resource development initiatives of its recipient countries and aims to enhance the expertise of JDS fellows in their respective fields, contributing to their countries’ development.

Since 2002, Japan has supported a total of 439 JDS fellows from the Philippines.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila said application to the JDS Program is yet to open but interested applicants are encouraged to visit the JDS Philippines webpage for future announcements https://jds-scholarship.org/country/philippines/index.html (PNA)