THE Australian government has donated P34 million worth of drones and operator training to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), reinforcing in the process the Philippines-Australia strategic partnership.
The package included 20 world-class aerial drones which will bolster the PCG’s strategic maritime capabilities to meet operational challenges.
Drone specialists from Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Office of the Chief Remote Pilot travelled to the Philippines this week to conduct four days of training for 30 members of the PCG Aviation Command Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Squadron.
The donations were handed over to PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan by Australian ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu in a ceremony held in Bataan.
“This support further boosts our ability to pursue more precisely, appropriately, and sustainably our complex rights and obligations from being both a maritime and archipelagic country. This also greatly assists the PCG to further advance its fundamental role as a responsible protector of rules to help keep the peace and prosperity for our own people and all law-abiding users of our seas to enjoy,” Gavan said.
“Australia is proud of our long-standing cooperation with the PCG, and our efforts to provide practical support for their crucial work,” saidYu.
“I am pleased to deliver this package of state-of-the-art drones and training. It is a tangible example of our increased maritime cooperation with the Philippines and a contribution that supports PCG’s modernisation efforts,” she added.
The equipment were provided as part of Australia’s civil maritime cooperation which also includes vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, marine protection, and annual Law of the Sea courses.
Yu announced earlier on that Australia would double its civil maritime cooperation with the Philippines to P649 million from 2025 to 2029.
“This is another example of how we are putting our Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership into action,” said Ambassador Yu.
Australia and the Philippines strengthened bilateral civil maritime cooperation through a 2024 memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation.
The accord continues to accelerate closer collaboration in promoting a shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region and respect for international law.