The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received a significant enhancement to its maritime surveillance capabilities as the Australian government donated P34 million (US$591,600) worth of drones, along with operator training, in a ceremony held on the morning of April 8 in Mariveles, Bataan.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu officially handed over the drone package, which includes 20 state-of-the-art aerial drones, to PCG’s commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.

“This support further boosts our ability to pursue more precisely, appropriately, and sustainably our complex rights and obligations from being both a maritime and archipelagic country,” said Gavan.

He added: “This also greatly assists the PCG to further advance its fundamental role as a responsible protector of rules to help keep the peace and prosperity for our own people and all law-abiding users of our seas to enjoy.”

The drones are set to enhance the PCG’s strategic maritime domain awareness, enabling the agency to meet operational demands across its expansive area of responsibility.

Furthermore, Australian drone specialists arrived in the country to conduct a four-day intensive training for 30 PCG personnel from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Squadron of its Aviation Command. The equipment and training are part of Australia’s broader civil maritime cooperation with the Philippines.

According to Yu, the donation of these drones is a tangible example of Australia’s increased maritime cooperation with the Philippines and a contribution that supports PCG’s modernization efforts. 

“Australia is proud of our long-standing cooperation with the PCG, and our efforts to provide practical support for their crucial work,” she further said.

The aid package aligns with a 2024 memorandum of understanding between both nations aimed at enhancing maritime collaboration, promoting regional peace, and ensuring respect for international law.

Last year, Yu announced that Australia would double its civil maritime cooperation assistance to the Philippines, amounting to P649 million through 2029.

“This is another example of how we are putting our Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership into action,” she said.

An aerial drone donated by the Australian Government during a training session with the Philippine Coast Guard.

PCG challenges Chinese research vessel near Batanes

Meanwhile, the PCG has deployed an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research vessel allegedly conducting unauthorized maritime research near Batanes.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed that the vessel, identified as “Zhong Shan Da Xue”, was tracked 103.86 nautical miles from Itbayat, Batanes, on the morning of April 7 using dark vessel detection technology from Canada.

The vessel, which entered the Philippine exclusive economic zone on April 2, has been exhibiting a suspicious navigation pattern described as an “inverted D”.

“Since then, it stayed within our own exclusive economic zone, which is seemingly conducting maritime scientific research because of its consistent patterns of navigation,” Tarriela said in a press briefing on April 7. 

He emphasized that the Chinese vessel does not have the required clearance from the Philippine government. 

“As far as we know, the Chinese government does not have any clearance or authority to conduct such marine scientific research within our own exclusive economic zone up north,” he said.

Gavan has ordered a Coast Guard aircraft to monitor and document the vessel’s activities, while a PCG vessel has also been deployed for close surveillance.

“We need to make China realize that they still need to respect the sovereign rights of other countries and not allow them and call them out to stop doing scientific research in somebody else’s exclusive economic zone,” Tarriela said.

New South Korea-made corvette 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy received a major upgrade with the arrival of its first guided-missile corvette from South Korea.

The 3,200-ton guided missile corvette, soon to be commissioned as the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), marks the fulfillment of a two-ship deal signed with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2021.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the arrival ceremony on April 8 at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales, calling it “a critical step toward developing a self-reliant and credible defense posture”.

Manufactured by Hyundai Heavy Industries, BRP Miguel Malvar is the latest addition to the Philippine Navy’s modern fleet and is expected to play a key role in joint operations and regional maritime defense.

“This includes not only investing in capabilities, but once again, training capable and competent people in the appropriate technical skills,” Teodoro said.

“Miguel Malvar is here today not only to serve as a deterrent and protector of our waters, but also as an important component in joint and combined operations as we work alongside allies and uphold the norms of international law,” he added.

Teodoro also acknowledged South Korea’s consistent support in building Philippine defense capabilities: “We thank our reliable partners, the people and the government of the Republic of Korea, not only in providing capabilities, but in building sustainability, redundancy, and resilience through actual capital investments.”

Highlighting the connection between maritime security and economic development, Teodoro noted: “One of the hallmarks of an investment horizon for this country is the blue economy. How can you develop a blue economy if you do not have a strong navy? You need a strong navy as an anchor, as a backbone, as a spine of the blue economy.”

The future BRP Miguel Malvar is armed with a range of weapons and sensors capable of engaging threats in anti-surface, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare.

The Department of National Defense and South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries signed the P28-billion contract for the construction of two guided-missile corvettes on December 28, 2021.

Its sister ship, the prospective BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), was launched on March 28 and is expected to be delivered to the Philippines by June or July.

Corvettes are small, fast warships primarily designed to protect larger vessels from potential threats.

All photos credit: Australian Government in the Philippines

Top photo: Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu (right) hands over a drone to Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan on April 8 in Mariveles, Bataan.