In her welcome remarks, Dr Theresita V Atienza, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, noted the robust strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

Capt Yamamoto, in his remarks, considers the Philippines as an important neighbor given how Japan and the Philippines share the same security issues in the South-East China Seas.

He also emphasized the significance of enhancing not only the economic aspect but also the security aspect of Philippines-Japan bilateral relations.

In his closing remarks, NDCP Executive Vice President BGen Rolando G Jungco AFP (Ret), underscored the visit to Japan of Secretary of National Defense Delfin N Loranza to meet with his counterpart, Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya last April. Said meeting reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to further strengthening its partnership with Japan.

BGen Jungco commended the growing partnership between the NDCP and the JSC urging both institutions to continue exchanging views on strategic concerns.

Senior officials from the Department of National Defense (DND) present during the discussion include Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Angelito M de Leon and Assistant Secretary for Assessment and International Affairs Teodoro Cirilo T Torralba III.

Members of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) Regular Class 54 also participated in the discussion.

Last month, a delegation from the NDCP headed by BGen Jungco visited Japan as part of the Global Security and Development Study (GSDS), an integral component of the MNSA program. The GSDS is also a major International Defense and Security Engagement (IDSE) of the College.

Established in 1963, the NDCP is the government’s premier academic institution for education, training and research on national security and defense. The College conducts the one-year MNSA program and other executive courses on national security