PH steps up interactions on maritime defense with US, France

FILE: Chancery of the Manila American Embassy. (Photo by United States Department of State – Official photo from THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S REGISTER OF CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY., Public Domain)

MANILA – The Philippines’ interactions with the United States and France on maritime law enforcement and defense continue to increase.

The US Embassy in Manila on Thursday said 12 sets of medical and dive equipment were turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to support its search and rescue and maritime law enforcement operations in Palawan.

This as it concludes a five-day medical training led by the US Embassy Civil Affairs Team to enhance the agency’s trauma care and lifesaving capabilities during maritime security operations.

“This medical first responder training is useful to our personnel here in the PCG district in Palawan. This is especially important for the members of the Special Operations Group who are the first responders during emergencies, including humanitarian response and disaster relief operations,” PCG District Palawan commander Commodore Rommel Supangan said in Filipino.

“This training gives them more knowledge to enable them to fulfill their missions.”

Also this week, Asia-Pacific Director of Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) Brig. Gen. Caroline Salahun paid a courtesy call on the Philippine Navy acting Flag Officer-in-Command represented by the Chief of Naval Staff Commodore Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta.

The two officials on Nov. 9 discussed defense cooperation between France and the Philippines, as well as “mutual concerns” that would be considered for future collaboration.

For Salahun, the meeting provided an opportunity to help strengthen the continuing collaborative relationship between the two states.

DGA serves as the defense procurement and technology agency of the French government.

It oversees the program management, development, and purchase of weapon systems for the French military.