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| Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and other Philippine officials. (Photo from Inquirer) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA—Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa on Friday (Jan. 10) took a ride on a train of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) for the first time to generate good reviews for a rehabilitation project being funded by his government. The ambassador visited the site of the Japanese government-funded MRT 3 rehabilitation project with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and other Philippine officials.
“All aboard the newly-rehabilitated MRT-3 with Sec. Tugade. Kudos to the MRT-3 workers for their great efforts! Hope this strong ????????&???????? partnership will result in safe and punctual transport services and make you set the alarm clock 30 min. later every morning!” Koshikawa said on Twitter. In a separate statement, the Japanese embassy said health protocols for COVID-19 were observed during the ambassador’s train trip.
The embassy said Koshikawa “expressed enthusiasm over the MRT-3’s improved train speed resulting from rail replacement works, which were part of the line’s massive rehabilitation program” carried out by the Japanese company Sumitomo Corp.-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Koshikawa, the embassy added, “also affirmed Japan’s commitment to bring development to the people of the Philippines” through “quality infrastructure assistance. The ambassador “hopes to see more partnerships like this in the future especially as Japan and the Philippines celebrate 65 years of friendship in 2021,” the embassy said.
