Daily TribuneThe program aims to provide coastal radar systems to the Armed Forces of the Philippines — the Philippine Navy in particular — which is expected to strengthen its coastal surveillance and MDA capabilities and to contribute to maintenance and enhancement of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region
The Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed that it has set an agreement with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko for the providence of the 600 million yen in Official Security Assistance grant aid.
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said that the OSA was established in 2023 as a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries.
"It aims to deepen our security cooperation with the countries, creating a desirable security environment and contributing to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security," Manalo said.
"We will enhance their security and deterrence capabilities through the provision of equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructures," he added.
This is the first OSA program to be implemented after its establishment.
The Philippines faces important sea lanes for Japan including the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait and to ensure the safety and security of these sea lanes, Manalo said that it is crucial that the maritime domain awareness capabilities of the Department of National Defense — including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and especially the Philippine Navy — are enhanced for the effective monitoring of these sea lanes and waters.
The program aims to provide coastal radar systems to the Armed Forces of the Philippines — the Philippine Navy in particular — which is expected to strengthen its coastal surveillance and MDA capabilities and to contribute to maintenance and enhancement of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
