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PH, Australia troops kick off 'Kasangga' drills in CDO

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
May 20, 2025, 10:06 am

MANILA -- The month-long Exercise "Kasangga" 2025-1 between Filipino and Australian military forces officially kicked off on Monday.

In a statement Tuesday, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the drills started at Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, marking the first holding of the drills in Mindanao.

"The Philippine Army-Australian Army Exercise (PAAAE) 'Kasangga' 2025-1 brings together three platoons from the PA's 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions and the Combat Engineer Regiment and their training counterparts from the Australian Army," he added.

Participating troops will train from May 19 to June 24 at Camp Kibaritan, Bukidnon, Dema-ala said.

Kasangga, which means "ally" or "partner" in Filipino, involves real-world training scenarios challenging the participating troops' skills and expertise while enhancing their knowledge of each other's tactics, techniques and procedures.

Dema-ala said the exercise covers jungle and urban operations, breaching operations, tactical casualty care, jungle survival training, as well as mobility, counter-mobility and reconnaissance operations.

He added that the PA leadership expressed confidence that Kasangga will further enhance the unit and individual warfighting skills of participating troops and bolster the interoperability of both armies in various war-fighting functions.

"The Philippine Army is committed to building strong partnerships with partner nations such as Australia with the end view of promoting regional stability and security," PA chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said.

Last year, the PA's 9th and 5th Infantry Division hosted two iterations of "Kasangga" in Northern Luzon and the Bicol Region last year.

"Kasangga", which means "ally" or "partner" in Filipino, involves real-world training scenarios that will challenge the participating troops' skills and expertise while enhancing their knowledge of each other's tactics, techniques and procedures. (PNA)