The project is backed by the CREATE MORE Act and will include training programs for Filipino caregivers to meet Japanese eldercare standards.
Nambu Co. plans to open its first Philippine facility in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Boost to jobs and retirement tourism
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the investment will not only create jobs locally but also help meet Japan’s growing demand for skilled caregivers.
Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque emphasized the project aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to develop high-value industries and position the Philippines as a premier destination for retirement and wellness in Asia.
“This project is more than an investment—it is a partnership for dignity, wellness, and opportunity for our people,” Roque said.
“By combining Japanese expertise in eldercare with our natural advantages—warm climate, hospitable culture, and skilled workforce—we can make the Philippines a second home for Japanese and global retirees.”
Whole-of-government effort
The investment was discussed during a Sept. 11 meeting in Osaka between key officials of the company and officials of the DTI, Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
Tourism Undersecretary Shalimar Hofer Tamano, Tourism Attaché Jerome Diaz, PRA CEO Roberto Zozobrado, and DTI trade officials in Osaka and the Foreign Trade Service Corps attended the meeting.
The DTI said the project reflects a whole-of-government approach in attracting foreign investment and building a globally competitive retirement and wellness sector. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
