Australia pledges P110M worth of drones to PCG

Australia on Friday said it will provide additional drones and uncrewed maritime domain awareness technologies worth P110 million to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu made the announcement during a forum in observance of the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral win against China over a dispute in the South China Sea.

“It is my great pleasure to announce today for the first time that over the next couple of years Australia will provide PCG with additional drones and other uncrewed maritime domain awareness technologies worth around P110 million,” Yu said.

In October 2024, the Australian government also donated Very High Frequency (VHF) Base radios to the PCG to enhance and modernize its operation in Palawan.

The equipment is part of Australia’s P328 million civil maritime cooperation with the Philippines, according to the embassy.

This cooperation includes vessel remediation, aerial drones, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, and annual Law of the Sea courses. —VAL, GMA Integrated News