DND

Philippines to Ignore New China Maritime Law Within West Philippine Sea

Manila, Philippines. The new Chinese law requires vessels passing through the South China Sea to provide information, including positions of their vessels, to Chinese authorities. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines did not recognize the new Chinese maritime law, which mandated foreign vessels in the South China Sea to “report their detailed information” to China. “Our stand on that…


Bilateral Meeting between SND and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin

Philippine Secretary of Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana visited the United States of America to meet with US senior officials, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). Following their bilateral meeting in Manila last 30-July-2021, Secretary Lorenzana met with his counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on 10-September-2021 in Washington DC where…



Strengthening our Inter-Agency Cooperation to protect our National Interests

Introduction. The lack of maritime domain awareness and lack of expertise among countries in managing their maritime domain has allowed proliferation of lawlessness and crime on the seas. Organized crime and terrorism have become interconnected and more complex. A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has run aground since 1999 and became a…


AMENDING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT [NDA]: PHILIPPINE NAVY

In his inaugural speech as FOIC PN, VADM Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo highlighted 3 priority programs, namely: boost the capacity of the Naval Sea Systems Command; implement skills specialization for its personnel; and lastly, to modernize the mindset of every sailor and marine.[1] In this connection, Commander Jay Tristan Tarriela PCG, in an article at the Diplomat, averred that until…



PCG holds sailing demonstration of BRP Gabriela Silang in Manila Bay

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) held a sailing demonstration of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) at the vicinity waters 25 nautical miles off Port of Manila on 15-September-2020. PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr personally welcomed Philippine National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N Lorenzana and Philippine Navy (PN) Flag-Officer-In-Command, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo who witnessed the activity….


The Navy-Coast Guard Quandary

Reviewing some of my past email, I came across a June 23, 2011 query from a Philippine Marine reserve officer, Frank Suha, who has been living in the United States for many years: There is recent news that PCG is planning to buy brand-new high endurance cutters/vessels – this will be a big help in the West Philippine Sea issue….



Fishery Protection: A Challenge to Maritime Forces

With over 2 million square kilometers of coastal and oceanic waters connecting the archipelago, the Philippine fishery is one of the major sources of food and income of the population. This area contains a common property resource – fishery and aquatic – that needs protection for the present and future generations. Recent reports indicate that among the country’s major economic…


Strengthening Our Hydrographic Office to Secure Our Future

This year is a milestone year for the global hydrographic community. 100 years ago or in June 1919, the 1st International Hydrographic Conference was held in London. It marks the beginning towards the creation of an international bureau for hydrography. Today, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States…


Challenge and Opportunity: PAX ASIA-PACIFICA

Part I “Terrorism Dominates ASEAN Talks: World Leaders Expressed Concern About Extremist Attacks — Duterte…” — Manila Bulletin headline, 16 November 2017 “By all indications and in many respects, the Philippine chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), capped by this week’s 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, was an unqualified success. The agreements reached — on the…


Separation of the PCG from the Navy

After the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit decision in November 2017 to go, finally, for a Code of Conduct involving the 10 ASEAN member-nations and their Dialogue Partners, particularly the People’s Republic of China, the value of FVR’s strategic decision made 25 years ago to pursue the separation of the Philippine Coast Guard – from being one of the operating units of…


Proceedings: MF’s 115 & 116

115th MARITIME FORUM MF 115 was hosted by the PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), held at the PCG Building, Port Area, Manila on 30-September-2016. Commo CARLOS L. AGUSTIN (Ret), FORUM CHAIR thanked the host RADM WILLIAM MELAD, CPCG, and acknowledged HON FELIPE JUDAN, USEC DOTr for Maritime Affairs, as well as the other agency heads present in the Forum. RADM WILLIAM…


Experts’ Dialogue on Maritime Security Governance 2016

The Philippine Navy (PN), through the Office of Naval Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Foreign Service Institute and the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat, organized the first Experts’ Dialogue on Maritime Security Governance to discuss the different approaches and mechanisms on how to effectively manage the nation’s maritime domain. Drawing from the experiences and best practices of Indonesia and…


Submarine Warfare Capability for the Philippine Navy — A Necessity

In 1998, the former Flag Officer In Command of the Philippine Navy, then Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma R Santos AFP, endorsed to the Department of National Defense the concept paper for the development of submarine capability for the Philippine Navy. VADM Santos is the proponent of the nucleus of submarine warfare in the PN. The Department of National Defense acknowledged…


Philippine Defense Procurement: Issues and Prospects

The defense of the Philippines from both internal and external threats is the principal business of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). To enable the AFP to fully perform its mandate, it should possess affordable war fighting capabilities that can also be used for operations other than war (OOTW) like counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, search and rescue,…


Public Consultation on IRR of RA 9993

Remembering VADM Mariano J. Dumancas, Jr.

The idea of giving credit where credit is due on the separation of the Coast Guard from the Navy came about when I got the suggestion last year that we should award VAdm. Mariano J. Dumancas Jr. (FOIC, PN1990-93) with a citation for exactly agreeing to help achieve that result in 1992. I missed to include that idea in our…