PH, US hold joint maritime activities in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro

Philippine and United States militaries and coast guards conducted the 6th Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the strategic waters of Palawan and Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday.

This was the first time the US Coast Guard (USCG) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) jointly participated in an MCA, highlighting a growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement Wednesday.

The AFP said the exercises featured in its activity with the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), PCG, and USCG were the following:

• Communications Check Exercise (COMMEX);
• Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX);
• Division Tactics and Officer of the Watch Maneuver (DIVTACS/OOW);
• Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX); and
• Finish Exercise (FINEX).

The assets used in the activity were Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Domingo Deluana, and AW109 naval helicopter; Philippine Air Force’s Super Tucano and Sokol helicopters; as well as Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua.

(From front) PH Navy's BRP Ramon Alcaraz, USCG Cutter Stratton, and PCG's BRP Melchora Aquino sail in tactical formation during the 6th bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity on May 20, 2025. PS16

From the US’ side, the assets used were US Coast Guard’s Cutter Stratton and US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

These exercises aimed to boost the Philippine and US capabilities in surveillance and operational coordination.

“As the Philippines continues to navigate evolving maritime challenges, joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the AFP’s commitment to modernizing its capabilities and strengthening defense partnerships to secure our national and regional maritime interests,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said. —KG, GMA Integrated News