The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) will hold a joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX) this week to enhance the interoperability of the forces from the two allied countries.

USCG Cutter Midgett (WMSL-757), also known as America’s national security cutter, dropped anchor in Manila on Tuesday, Aug. 30, to kick off the exercise.

Rear Adm. Charlie Rances, commander of the PCG Fleet, and US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson welcomed the USCG contingent led by Capt. Willie Carmichael, commanding officer of the USCG Cutter Midgett, at Pier 15 in Port Area, Manila.

Around 250 personnel from USCG Cutter Midgett and 150 PCG members will participate in the two-day exercise which is expected to be held in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) near Zambales and Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro from Sept. 2 to 3.

“Due to climate change and our archipelagic nature, our country is prone to maritime accidents, thus, we are striving in making efforts to minimize the loss of lives at sea and sea mishaps,” said Rances.

Rances explained that the event will focus on simulating communication exercises, maneuvering, technical demonstration, flight operations, small boat operations, medical assistance, and resolution between Filipino and American coast guardians.

PCG vessels BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), an 83-meter offshore patrol vessel; BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402), a multi-role response vessel; BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), a fast patrol boat; and a Coast Guardian Aviation Force (CGAF) helicopter will represent the Philippine contingent in the joint exercise.

Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, emphasized that the drills won’t be a show of force even as the ongoing maritime row between the Philippines and China continues to raise tension in the WPS.

“There is nothing to worry about this search and rescue exercise. This is a humanitarian function of the Coast Guard at wala tayong pinaguusapang sigalot dito (we are not talking about any dispute here),” Balilo said.

“Borderless ang search and rescue at kahit na halimbawa ay mayroong hindi pagkakaunawaan, pagdating sa search and rescue, magtutulungan tayo dyan sapagkat buhay ang nakataya (The search and rescue is borderless and even if we have misunderstanding with other , we shall work together when it comes to search and rescue missions because it is human lives that are at stake),” he added.

The SAREX is the third iteration between the PCG and USCG, having conducted the same drills in 2019 and 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

The PCG also conducted similar exercises with China, Japan, and Indonesia in the previous years.

Meanwhile, Capt. Carmichael expressed hope that through the drills, American and Filipino coast guardians will be able to “be better and stronger together.

“At the end of these engagements, we are looking forward to becoming better and stronger together by working as partners to ensure that a rules-based international order is in place to support maritime governance, security, and prevent illicit activities from happening within the waters here,” he said.