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MCAs to have more assets, advanced training scenarios

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
January 20, 2025, 11:48 am

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sees the maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with the United States evolving as more assets and training scenarios are expected in the future.

"Moving forward, we plan to elevate these activities by incorporating more advanced training scenarios, expanding participation to include additional assets," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said Monday.

She added that the exercises are essential components of the country's defense cooperation and will continue to evolve in scope and complexity.

The AFP spokesperson said the MCAs could involve other like-minded countries.

"This will strengthen our collective ability to address evolving security challenges and maintain peace and stability in the region," Padilla said.

The MCAs with the US military enhance the Philippines' ability to defend its maritime territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), she added.

The activities strengthen the AFP's maritime domain awareness, beef up communication and coordination capabilities, and provides valuable training opportunities for Filipino military personnel.

Padilla said that more MCAs are being eyed in the future as part of "ongoing efforts to enhance the interoperability and readiness" between the Philippine and US armed forces.

"As part of our longstanding defense partnership, this activity plays a crucial role in strengthening our cooperation, contributing to regional peace and stability. Our primary focus is to promote a rules-based order in the maritime domain and ensure the peace and security of the region," she said.

Naval and air units from the Philippines and the United States conducted this year's first MCA at the WPS over the weekend.

In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the MCA took place in the Palawan area of the WPS with the US Indo-Pacific Command on Jan. 17 and 18.

"Philippine assets involved in the activity included the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), two FA-50 fighter aircraft, and Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue assets," he said.

Participants on the US side were the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) carrier strike group that includes the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59), Arleigh Burke-class guided-destroyer USS Sterett (DDG-104), an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, a V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and two F-18 Hornet jet fighters.

"On Jan. 17, the forces conducted a communications check exercise, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuver, and a photo exercise. The exercises continued on Jan. 18 with the participants conducting dissimilar aircraft combat training," Trinidad said.

It was the fifth MCA between the AFP and US military units since the drills started in November 2023. (PNA)