The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) welcomed on Thursday morning the arrival of Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessels at the Manila Port Area for their first-ever Trilateral Maritime Exercise.

In a statement, PCG said it warmly welcomed the JCG Akitsushima (PLH-32) and USCG Stratton (WML-752) along with the captains JCG Captain Toru Imai and USCG Captain Brian Krautler to start the week-long maritime exercise called “PCG-JCG-USCG KAAGAPAY TRILATERAL EXERCISE 2023”.

According to PCG, the opening ceremony was formally led by BRP Melchora Aquino Captain Antonio Sontillanosa.

Present at the ceremony were Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Charge d' Affaires Kenichi Matsuda, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Sarmiento, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of Asian and Pacific Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso.

The joint exercise will mainly focus on various activities such as maritime law enforcement, maritime security, maritime search and rescue, and maritime environmental protection.

The Kaagapay Trilateral Exercise, which is expected to strengthen the interoperability of the three countries, will be held in the waters of Mariveles, Bataan from June 1 to June 7.

Written by Stephanie Anne Santos, DZRH News Online Intern