DAVAO'S top universities are set to benefit from a new Japanese initiative aimed at strengthening science and technology education. This collaboration seeks to foster academic and research exchanges between the Philippines and Japan.
The announcement came during a courtesy call on February 18, 2025, when former Consul General of Japan in Davao, Miwa Yoshiaki, and his brother, Miwa Toyoaki, former Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, met with Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte at the Arcadia Event Center.
Yoshiaki, now president of the Mindanao-Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJ-STeP), reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Davao students through scholarships in science and technology.
The program will offer outstanding students opportunities to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in science and engineering, fostering research and innovation in both countries.
Founded by Toyoaki, MJ-STeP already partners with four leading Davao universities—UP Mindanao, USeP, AdDU, and USTP. These institutions will benefit from the scholarship program and strengthen ties with prestigious Japanese universities, including Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, and Tohoku University.
Yoshiaki also outlined Japan’s broader support for Davao’s economic development, proposing initiatives to enhance agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, and flood control. He underscored business matching as a way to create new economic opportunities and boost Davao’s competitiveness.
Duterte welcomed the initiatives, highlighting agriculture as a key driver of the city’s growth. “We have abundant land to support agriculture and agribusiness, which will contribute to our revenue and ensure food security for our people,” he said.
Additionally, assistant chief-of-staff Jonah Presto suggested launching agricultural pilot projects on a 15-hectare site in Malabog, Paquibato, to explore soil analysis and crop rotation.
The collaboration between Davao City and Japan marks a significant step toward advancing science, technology, and economic growth, benefiting students, universities, and the local community. DEF
