Australia allots A$6 million to bolster military aid to RP

MANILA, Philippines - Australia has earmarked A$6 million to boost its defense and military cooperation with the Philippine government.

Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said his country’s defense cooperation with the Philippines has grown in the last two years, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism and maritime security and assistance.

“In 2009-2010, the defense cooperation program with the Philippines will be approximately $6 million,” Smith told reporters at his Forbes Park residence in Makati City.

He said Australia’s Customs and Border Protection Service has been cooperating with the Philippines’ Coast Watch and with the United States since 2005 in preventing members of the Jemaah Islamiyah and local Abu Sayyaf terrorists from traveling in and out of the country through the so-called southern backdoor or Mindanao.

The cross border security arrangement is also aimed at addressing transnational crimes, including poaching and smuggling.

A total of 120 Philippine military personnel and officers have been trained in Australia and received postgraduate studies as part of the defense cooperation.

Smith said the Australian defense department also provided the Armed Forces of the Philippines with $229,000 worth of military equipment and resource materials between 2008 and 2009.

He said Australia is also looking forward to the Philippine Senate’s approval of its Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines.      – Jaime Laude