As part of efforts to increase defense collaboration, the Philippines and Canada are seeking more practical partnerships in disaster resilience.

This followed a meeting on August 4 at DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, between DND Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and Canada's Ambassador to the Philippines, David Bruce Hartman.

In a statement issued over the weekend, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said that the two officials made a pact to pursue practical cooperation on disaster resilience as well as education and training, among other initiatives between the Philippines and Canadian defense establishments, through capacity-building projects.

In the same meeting, Hartman also acknowledged the Indo-Pacific's importance and expressed Canada's intent to increase its presence in the region.

Andolong added that with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada in 2024, Secretary Teodoro noted how timely Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy is in aligning with the DND's thrust to strengthen defense partnerships with like-minded states in addressing pressing and emerging security concerns in the region.

Both countries announced their willingness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation to celebrate this bilateral milestone.