Phl, Indonesia to beef up border patrol activities

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to further enhance their border patrol activities, as they recently settled their 20-year maritime border dispute.

The two countries addressed various issues affecting their borders during the 33rd Republic of the Philippines-Republic of Indonesia Border Committee Vice Chairmen’s Conference here on Wednesday. 

The Philippines and Indonesia, represented by the Eastern Mindanao Command and the Indonesian Naval Command based in Manado, North Sulawesi, respectively, agreed to conduct more joint search and rescue operations at their borders.

They also vowed to improve information sharing between the Naval Operations Center of the Philippine Navy and the Command Control Center of the Indonesian Navy to better monitor the movements of people and goods.

Such information sharing will also be improved between the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Operations Center and the Eastern Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy. 

The two countries would also provide additional personnel in designated border posts where border-crossers would be advised to pass through. 

They recently forged an agreement delineating the boundaries of their overlapping exclusive economic zones in the Mindanao Sea, Celebes Sea and Philippine Sea. – With Jaime Laude