Philippine ambassador promotes cooperation between local authorities in the Philippines and Japan

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Council on Local Authorities and International Relations (CLAIR) gave a briefing for delegates from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) on CLAIR’s efforts and initiatives, including the internationalization of local governments in Japan on May 24, 2023. CLAIR was represented by the adviser executive, Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano.

In her speech, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano highlighted the various sister city agreements that have already been established between the Philippines and Japan, as well as the active participation of Filipino youth in the JET Program that fosters interpersonal relations, which serve as the foundation for the strength of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan. She expressed her hope that “the briefing will further the institutional partnership between ULAP and CLAIR, which I believe is unique and has the potential to bring significant impact to both our countries at the local level.”

Quirino Province Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua, National President of ULAP and National President of the League of Philippine Provinces, highlighted how building strong ties and sharing best practices with international counterparts such as CLAIR , could facilitate collaboration and mutual learning to improve capacities in local governance. He expressed the desire of ULAP to partner with CLAIR and identify areas where both organizations can work hand in hand to achieve shared goals of sustainable development and inclusive governance.

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During the briefing, Ambassador Kitano provided an overview of CLAIR’s projects and activities, including supporting sister city relations, offering training opportunities, conducting research for local governments, and fostering interpersonal exchanges.

Similarly, he highlighted examples of cooperation activities in the Philippines under the CLAIR International Cooperation Specialist Dispatch Project for Local Governments in areas such as disaster management, landscape management and promotion of local products.

establishing strong links and sharing best practices with international counterparts, such as CLAIR, could facilitate collaboration and mutual learning

CLAIR is a government-affiliated foundation that works to support the internationalization efforts of Japan’s local governments, including supporting their overseas economic activities, international cooperation programs, and multicultural exchanges, among others. Its sister organizations include the national federations of local governments and the local assemblies of Japan.

ULAP is an umbrella organization that brings together various leagues representing the local government units (LGUs) of the Philippines. Its mission is to advocate for policies and programs that strengthen LGUs and position them as partners in nation building.