MANILA — The Japanese Embassy in Manila has awarded certificates to 30 Filipino health workers who won scholarships entitling them to free language and skills training for caregivers in Japan.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura distributed the certificates to the 30 care workers on Sept. 18. They are the second group of Filipino health workers to be sent to Japan, and are scheduled to leave later this month.

The entry of Filipino nurses and caregivers is one of the main highlights of the 2006 Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement that took effect last December.