Philippines holds simultaneous naval exercises with US, Australia

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time this year, soldiers, sailors and other personnel of the Philippine Navy are engaged in two simultaneous joint exercises with the military forces of the United States and Australia.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) opened the first-ever simultaneous conduct of the Maritime Training Activity SAMA-SAMA (MTA SAMA-SAMA) and LUMBAS on Tuesday with chief of staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro presiding over the opening ceremony at the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“This year’s joint exercise shall undoubtedly reinforce the long-standing alliance and friendship among our respective nations while opening broad avenues to complement our joint regional security efforts and advance our maritime capabilities,” he said.

Historically, the AFP said the naval exercises were conducted separately but this year, the joint exercises were held simultaneously for the MTA SAMA-SAMA between the Philippines and the United States and LUMBAS between the Philippines and Australia.

Representatives from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, British Navy, Royal Brunei Navy, French Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy were present as observers and will participate in disaster and humanitarian assistance activities.

The AFP said a total of 742 personnel will join the MTA SAMA-SAMA and LUMBAS 2022, including personnel from the AFP’s Naval Reserve Force.

This year’s exercise includes capability-enhancement events to address non-traditional concerns such as territorial defense, natural and man-made disasters, terrorism and transnational crimes.

The AFP said the activities are also aimed at developing war-fighting interoperability of participating navies on maritime law enforcement operations, on-shore and at-sea sustainment, air operations, anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance.

Exercises for both joint naval exercises will be conducted at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga and in different locations in the Visayas region.

Present at the opening ceremony were Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, acting flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy; Commodore Florante Gaguia, commander of NAVFORCEN; United States Navy Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the Seventh Fleet; Australian Commodore Ray Leggatt, chief of staff of the Navy headquarters; Japanese Vice Admiral Tamotsu Matsumoto, commander of Fleet Air Force and British Commodore Mike Proudman, commanding officer of the HMAS SPEY.