The DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA) of the REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES and the MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (MAFF) of JAPAN (hereinafter referred to individually as a “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”),

DESIRING to enhance the existing friendly relationship between the two countries through cooperation in the field of agriculture;

RECOGNIZING the crucial importance to achieve sustainable agriculture production and food systems stated in the Joint Statement on Sustainable Agricultural Production and Food Systems signed by ministers in charge of agriculture from several ASEAN member countries including the Republic of the Philippines and Japan in 2021; and

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the importance of cooperation in agricultural and rural development for promoting sustainable development that will consequently help in raising the standard of living of their peoples, in accordance with the existing laws and regulations of their respective countries;

Have reached the following recognition:

Paragraph 1
Objective of Cooperation

On the basis of mutual benefits and equality, the Participants have decided to establish a general framework of technical and economic cooperation in the agricultural sector which includes, but not limited to, the promotion of scientific, technical and economic cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Paragraph 2
Scope and Areas of Cooperation

The Participants will promote cooperation jointly decided by the Participants in the following areas, without prejudice to others which may be included in the framework of this cooperation:

1. Exchange of information on agricultural and rural development policies;
2. Exchange of information on the laws and regulations pertaining to accreditation and traceability of agricultural commodities;
3. Exchange of information on the import and export of agricultural and fishery products and food products; 
4. Cooperation in resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems with the aim of ensuring food security; 
5. Exchange of information on agricultural machinery design, manufacturing, testing, evaluation and development of standards; 
6. Cooperation in the development and promotion of smart technology and digitalized technology for sustainable agricultural development; 
7. Cooperation in sustainable agriculture and utilization of by-products for renewable energy such as collaboration with private sector; 
8. Cooperation on research and development for sustainable agricultural production systems as well as strengthening agricultural biotechnology research for food security; 
9. Cooperation on strengthening farmer organizations linkage with regard to community production and processing technology; 
10. Cooperation on involving the participation of the youth and women in agricultural development through exposure to Japanese agricultural system and technologies; 
11. Technical Cooperation on enhancement of vegetable value chain in accordance with the “Philippine Vegetable Industry Roadmap 2021-2025”; 
12. Cooperation on strengthening food value chain or other post-harvest/agro-industry development through promoting collaboration with private sector; 
13. Cooperation on capacity development of government officers, researchers and educators for resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems; and 
14. Cooperation in other areas jointly decided by the Participants.

Paragraph 3
Implementation

1.	With a view to facilitating and promoting bilateral coordination in the implementation of the present Memorandum of Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the “MOC”), the Participants will establish the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Committee”).
2.	The Joint Committee will consist of co-chairpersons representing each Participant and officials in charge of the areas of cooperation described in Paragraph 2 of this MOC.
3.	The Joint Committee will be held every two (2) years alternately in the Republic of the Philippines and Japan as necessary. The date, venue and agenda will be jointly decided by the Participants.
4.	The Joint Committee will comprise members of various operating units of the Participants depending on the matters to be discussed.
5.	Any activity approved by the Joint Committee for implementation will entail a cooperation and/or implementing arrangement, separate from this MOC.

Paragraph 4
Resources

All commitments made in this MOC are subject to the availability of funds and each Participant’s budget priorities. This MOC is not meant to obligate funds. Unless the Participants have consented to otherwise in advance in writing, each Participant is responsible for bearing its own costs and expenses in carrying out any cooperative activities under this MOC.

Paragraph 5
Legal Status

1.	This MOC serves as initial springboard for cooperative activities encompassed herein. Any activities of the Participants in line with or in the furtherance of this MOC should be embodied with a more definite arrangement in writing between the Participants.
2.	This MOC only serves as a statement of the Participants’ intent and does not constitute or create any enforceable rights or obligations under domestic or international law.
3.	This MOC does not affect the rights or obligations of the Participants acquired under any agreements or memoranda in which the Participants are involved.

Paragraph 6
Intellectual Property Rights

1.	The allocation of the ownership of intellectual property rights arising out of any activity carried out under this MOC will be determined on a case by case basis in accordance with the applicable domestic laws and international agreements in which the Participants are involved.
2.	Notwithstanding anything contained herein, a Participant will continue to own intellectual property rights with respect to the technologies, having been solely and separately developed by that Participant, when they are shared in the cooperative activities.

Paragraph 7
Focal Points

For the purpose of coordinating, ensuring and implementing the cooperation envisaged under this MOC, the Participants designate the International Affairs Division of the DA and the Bilateral Affairs Division of the MAFF as the Focal Points.

Paragraph 8
Settlement of Differences

Any differences arising out of the interpretation or implementation of this MOC will be settled amicably through consultations or discussion between the Participants.

Paragraph 9
Revision

This MOC may be revised as may be required any time by mutual written consent of the Participants. Such revisions will be signed and dated by the Participants prior to any changes being made, and will form part of this MOC on the date of signature.  

The cooperation under this MOC will commence on the date of latter written notification by a Participant indicating that the respective domestic requirements for the MOC’s commencement have been complied with. This MOC will remain applicable for six (6) years, automatically extendable for equal periods, unless one of the Participants notifies the other in writing of its intention to terminate this MOC. 

This MOC may be terminated by either Participant by providing and delivering written notice to the other Participant no later than ninety (90) days before the intended termination date. 

Signed in Tokyo on the 9th day of February in 2023, in duplicate in the English language.

   
 

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF	FOR THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND
OF THE PHILIPPINES	FISHERIES OF JAPAN

 

 

(SGD.) Domingo F. Panganiban	(SGD.) NOMURA Tetsuro
Senior Undersecretary of	Minister of Agriculture, Rorestry
the Department of Agriculture of	and Fisheries of Japan
the Republic of the Philippines

 

 

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC

OF THE PHILIPPINES

 

 

 

 

 

 

niban

Senio ry of

the Depa ulture of

the Rep ilippines

FOR THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND

FISHERIES OF JAPAN

 

 

 

 

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NOMURA Tetsuro

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan