The Philippines will receive a $187.92-million (P11.54 billion) loan from Japan aimed at advancing reforms under the country’s universal health care (UHC) system, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The financing, coursed through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, supports the third subprogram of the Build Universal Health Care Program (BUHC3). Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya formalized the arrangement by signing diplomatic notes on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
According to the Japanese embassy in Manila, “this program will provide financial support to the Philippines to improve and formulate policies related to achieving universal health care and to mitigate the impact on the health sector caused by the escalating tensions in the Middle East.”
The funding targets several reform areas, among them sustainable financing and strategic purchasing, the integrated delivery of quality health services, and information management tied to performance accountability.
The health financing agreement came alongside other diplomatic activity in Manila this week. President Marcos received the non-resident ambassadors of Lesotho, the Dominican Republic, Gambia, and Gabon at Malacañang on Tuesday, as the country pursues broader ties with those nations in areas such as trade and tourism.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers passed Resolution No. 1274 marking seven decades since the Philippines and Japan restored diplomatic ties following World War II. The chamber separately recognized departing South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa for his work in deepening cooperation between Manila and Seoul.
