By Leonardo Micua
A delegation of businessmen, industrialists, bankers and professionals from Iwata, a sister city of Dagupan in Japan, were in Dagupan on February 6 to discuss with city officials on the possibility of sending workers to their country to work in hospitals, in various industries and other fields.
Headed by Takahiko Matsushita, Vice chair person of the Iwata Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and president of Matsushita Kogyo Co.. Ltd., the group was warmly welcomed at the Dagupan City Hall by Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, city councilors and other officials of the city government.
In their initial talk with city officials, the Japanese visitors expressed their willingness to take in workers from Dagupan but who must first learn Nihongo, the official language of Japan, to facilitate their employment.
Nihongo is being taught by a special school in Calamba, Laguna, especially for Japan-bound workers but the place is too far away from Dagupan, discouraging potential applicants from the city.
The visitors expressed willingness to link with local universities—through the Dagupan City government—for them to open up classes in Nihongo for their graduates to qualify themselves to work in Japan.
Councilor Michael Fernandez said Dagupan is lucky because it has four universities and a number of colleges who may be open in teaching Nihongo to their students and prepare them for work in Japan.
The visitors said Japan needs a lot of workers in health care, and drivers, mechanics on industries, as well as in agriculture, banking and businesses.
The other Japanese visitors are Hirikazu Horano, president or Heidi’s Co., Ltd; Shigehiro Ito, deputy branch manager of Shizuoka Bank, Iwata Branch; Hitoshi Kokaji, Shizuoka Bank International Sales Department Asia Project Team; Dai Nakagawa, president of SFG Marketing Co, Ltd; Miss Yu Akoyama, department manager of SFG Marketing Co., Ltd; Manabu Takada, president ASEAN Co. Ltd; and Yanchun Han, Sales Promotion Manager, Asean Co. Ltd.