Some 500 foreign experts on disaster response and military foreign troops from 23 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum countries will participate in Monday's first ever Voluntary Demonstration of Response aimed at enhancing the capacities and improving the inter-operability of the region in multinational relief operations.

The Philippines, along with the US government, is ready to host the largest security forum's disaster response exercise, which runs from May 4 to 8 and will be held in Metro Manila and various areas in Central Luzon.

"All systems go," retired Maj. Gen. Glenn J. Rabonza, administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and executive officer of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

He said this civilian-led and military-supported exercise is the first ever field exercise participated in the ARF countries since its establishment in 1994.

The opening ceremony will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Esplanade, SM Central Business Park, Seaside corner Bay Boulevard, Pasay City.

Of the 23 participating countries, 12 countries will bring their civil-military units. The biggest delegation comes from Japan.

Rabonza said the areas of exercise include land, air and maritime search and rescue, medical assistance, evacuation and engineering construction.

The VDR intends to elevate the ARF dialogues to an actual display of national capacities for assisting member countries in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya said there is no need for the Philippines to enter into status of visiting forces agreement (SOVFA) with the participating countries, saying that the VDR is just a civilian exercise.

"This is a short, civilian disaster response. There will be no need to enter into such an umbrella agreement because there will be no special treatment on participating elements of other countries," he said.

Malaya said the Philippines is imposing the usual entry requirements for the military delegates.

The exercise provides opportunity for the visiting delegates, who also include medical professionals, to carry out humanitarian assistance missions.

During the five-day exercises, the participants from Indonesia, Mongolia, Australia and Papua New Guinea will be involved in reconstructing damaged schools and destroyed bridges in Central Luzon.