The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has received a second tranche of drone operator training from the Australian government, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations as they approach 80 years of bilateral ties.
The latest training is part of Australia’s ongoing efforts to enhance the PCG’s maritime domain awareness, building on an earlier delivery in April 2025 of advanced aerial drones and operator instruction valued at P36 million.
The program included two specialized courses. From Nov. 17 to 21, ten officers from the PCG Aviation Command received train-the-trainer instruction in Melbourne on the Australian-made SYPAQ fixed-wing drone.
The course was conducted by Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW), its Office of the Chief Remote Pilot, and manufacturer SYPAQ Systems.
A second course was held in Laguna from Nov. 24 to 28, where DCCEEW experts trained thirty PCG personnel in day and night drone operations, maintenance, and mission planning.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown said the training is another example of Australia’s steadfast commitment to supporting the PCG’s maritime domain awareness capabilities and modernization agenda.
PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the initiative strengthens the service’s operational readiness and global contribution.
The training aligns with Australia’s commitment to provide up to P110 million worth of additional drones and uncrewed maritime domain awareness technologies, an initiative announced in July 2025 during the ninth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Australia’s broader civil maritime assistance to the Philippines encompasses vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships and operational equipment.
