PH, US hold seventh joint maritime activity in WPS
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) sailed together in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for the seventh time to strengthen their cooperation and interoperability in maintaining regional peace and stability in the heavily contested waters, a ranking official disclosed Friday, June 6.
The seventh bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between the AFP and US Indopacom was held last June 4 off the coastal waters of Occidental Mindoro and Zambales.
“The MCA is a demonstration of both nations’ resolve to deepen cooperation and enhance interoperability in line with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP public affairs office, said.
“As regional dynamics evolve, the MCA underscores the importance of working together to safeguard peace, stability, and a rule-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
The joint sail marked the first operational deployment of BRP Miguel Malvar, the newest guided missile frigate of the Philippine Navy. She was commissioned into service last month.
“The mission provided a valuable opportunity to evaluate the ship’s performance in a multilateral environment and assess its readiness to operate alongside its partner nation, reaffirming its vital role in enhancing the AFP’s maritime capabilities,” Trinidad explained.
Another highlight of the joint sail was a fire support rehearsal involving the US 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment based in Subic.
“This serial tested joint coordination in a littoral combat environment, integrating forward observers, command and control elements, and fire support platforms for a smooth maritime operational effectiveness,” Trinidad said.
Other exercises included Communications Check Exercises (COMMEX), Division Tactics and Officer of the Watch Maneuvers (DIVTACS/OOW), Photo Exercises (PHOTOEX), and a Final Exercise (FINEX). These were designed to enhance interoperability for maritime domain awareness and targeting reconnaissance capability.
Apart from defense training, the AFP said that the MCA also supported “broader objectives” such as capacity building and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) preparedness.
Personnel and assets from the Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) Group and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra (MRRV4409) joined the activity.
The AFP also conducted a maritime patrol in Parola Island (Northeast Cay) and Likas (West York) Island, two of the nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). The others are Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, Panata Island (Loaita Cay), Kota (Loaita) Island, Patag (Flat), Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
The patrol was part of a series of maritime operations being conducted by the AFP from June 4 to 7 “to reinforce the country's sovereign rights over its maritime domains” in KIG.
While aboard BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), AFP personnel established direct communications with the Parola detachment to synchronize updates, assess operational conditions, and express support for the troops deployed in this remote post.
Bilateral defense agenda
At the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Jimmy D. Larida hosted General Randall Reed of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) during the latter’s courtesy visit on June 5.
The AFP said that Larida and Reed underscored the importance of advancing logistics cooperation and regional security during their meeting.
“They exchanged views on improving military transportation interoperability under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and explored initiatives to boost maritime domain awareness and enhance cyber defense capabilities in response to evolving security challenges,” the AFP said.
At present, there are nine EDCA locations in the country. The first five were agreed upon in 2016: Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan), Basa Air Base (Pampanga), Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija), and Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro).
The four additional sites were approved by President Marcos Jr. in 2023: Naval Base Camilo Osias (Cagayan), Camp Melchor Dela Cruz (Isabela), Balabac Island (Palawan), and Lal-lo Airport (Cagayan).