FILIPINO, American and Australian troops have launched the first-ever trilateral exercises meant to hone the skills of their troops in responding to territorial defense and other concerns.
Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro led the opening of the “Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama-Sama” and “Exercise Lumbas” on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Naval Forces Central in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.
MTA Sama-Sama between Filipino and US troops and Exercise Lumbas between Filipino and Australian troops are annual naval exercises that are held separately in the past.
This year, authorities from the three countries decided to hold the exercises simultaneously. The drills will be held until October 18.
“This year’s joint exercise shall undoubtedly reinforce the long-standing alliance and friendship among our respective nations while opening broad avenues to complement our joint regional security efforts and advance our maritime capabilities,” said Bacarro.
Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of the Armed Forces public affairs office, said 742 personnel from the three sides are taking part in the exercise. The training will conducted in different locations in the Visayas and at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
Baclor said representatives from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, British Navy, Royal Brunei Navy, French Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Malaysian Navy will observe the training activities and participate in disaster and humanitarian assistance activities.
“This year’s naval exercise includes capability-enhancement events to address non-traditional concerns such as territorial defense, natural and man-made disasters, terrorism, and transnational crimes,” said Baclor.
Baclor said the training exercise is also aimed at “developing warfighting interoperability of participating navies on maritime law enforcement operations, on-shore and at-sea sustainment, air operations, anti-submarine warfare, and humanitarian assistance.”
