The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and its Japanese counterparts will conduct the third edition of the “Doshin Bayanihan” Exercise in Cebu this October.
PAF Spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo said that this bilateral exercise will center on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
Scheduled from October 2 to 6 in Mactan, Cebu, the exercise will involve training in air evacuation of casualties, aerial drop operations, relief and rescue missions, and expert exchanges on mass casualty evacuation with Japanese personnel.
“This will include training on aeromedical evacuation and dealing with mass casualties,” Castillo said.
Castillo emphasized the significance of the exercise, noting that both Japan and the Philippines face similar challenges in dealing with calamities and disasters.
“It is very important for the PAF because both Japan and the Philippines share the very same experience when it comes to addressing calamities and disasters. So, it’s a good way for us to share the best practices, especially since both Japan and the Philippines often experience calamities and disasters all year round,” she said.
The previous iterations of “Doshin Bayanihan” were held in 2021 and 2022.
Aside from Doshin, PAF will also hold a “Sanay-Bagwis,” a Salaknib-like exercise of the Army on September 30-October 1.
“It’s a unilateral training similar to Salaknib. This is the first iteration, and it is meant to increase interoperability, seamless integration of our PAF course system,” the PAF spokesperson noted.
Castillo said the exercise is part of the PAF’s preparations for different drills with other nations in the next few months.
