PHILIPPINE, US MARINES SHARPEN AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS DURING PHIBLEX 2015
By Sgt. Anthony Kirby, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
October 6,2014
PALAWAN, Philippines -- U.S. and Philippine Marines raided a small island Oct. 2 utilizing combat rubber raiding crafts during Amphibious Landing Exercise 15.
The Philippine Marines are with the 12th Marine Battalion and the U.S. Marines are with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
For the U.S. Marines, the raid was part of their Certification Exercise, a semi-annual assessment to test the capabilities of the MEU’s ability to conduct a variety of missions. This iteration of CERTEX is unique because it is running concurrently with the objectives of PHIBLEX 15.
The assessment evaluates the 31st MEU’s planning, briefing, preparation and execution processes. After the evaluation, each phase is broken into categories of accomplished, partially accomplished or mission unsuccessful, so the MEU commander and Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the team.
The day prior to the raid, Philippine and U.S. Marines integrated and trained side by side to prepare for the mission.
“It was great working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines; within the hour of us meeting, everyone had already linked up and immediately started running rehearsals for training,” said U.S. Marine Capt. Brian T. Spillane, commander of Company L, BLT 3/5.
The mission scenario, developed by Special Operations Training Group, required the BLT to raid a small island via combat rubber raiding crafts. Once there, they had to clear and secure several houses while taking simulated enemy fire from a combined group of AFP and U.S. Marines acting as an opposing force.
“I feel this is important training for all of us because we learn different tactics," said Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Julius Tumpag, intelligence chief with 12th Marine Bn., AFP. “It’s meaningful, and in a way, it’s also fun.
The strong alliance between AFP and U.S. Marines has made the execution of the mission a successful one, according to Spillane. “They’re a gracious, welcoming host, and I think we synched up pretty well,” said Spillane. “It’s been a productive bilateral training exercise.”
PHIBLEX 15 is being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S. Marine and Navy forces to strengthen interoperability across a range of military operations to include disaster relief and contingency operations.
Philippine, US Marines sharpen amphibious operations during PHIBLEX 2015 > The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website > News Display
Philippines invites bids for ASW helicopters
By:
GREG WALDRON
SINGAPORE
Source: Flightglobal.com
a day ago
The Philippines has issued a tender for two anti-submarine warfare helicopters, with bidding to commence on 21 October.
In a bidding document posted on its web site, the Department of National Defence says that the budget for the two helicopters is Ps5.4 billion ($120 million). This amount will also cover weapons, key equipment, and logistics support.
Manila is in the process of recapitalising its military in the context of simmering territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Flightglobal’s World Air Forces directory shows that the Filipino navy has a modest aviation component, with just six Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft and four
Airbus Helicopters Bo105s.
In addition, Manila has orders for eight AgustaWestland AW109s, which the navy will use for patrol, surveillance, and search and rescue duties.
Philippines invites bids for ASW helicopters - 10/7/2014 - Flight Global
Israel remembers PH help during the Holocaust
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 10/07/2014
MANILA - Israeli Ambassador Ephraim Ben Matityau met with President Benigno Aquino III as he pitched efforts to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Both Aquino and Matityau exchanged views on strengthening Israeli-Philippine relations, particularly in the areas of high-tech innovation, research and development, emergency preparedness and agro-technology.
The new Israeli envoy also pushed for the implementation of a joint committee for science and technology as proposed earlier by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
“With this kind of initiative, we can reach a new chapter in our developing relations. Israel’s position as a HiTech Nation and the Philippines aspirations are a perfect match – from new challenges of the CyberTech to BioTech, NanoTech or AgriTech – the future is full of opportunities,” he said.
Matityau highlighted the strong relationship between the two nations, which has spanned years.
He noted that 1,300 Jewish people were saved by the Philippine government under President Manuel Quezon during the Holocaust.
He also noted the Philippines gave one vote for the United Nations resolution for the creation of the state of Israel.
“Next year, we are going to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of Manila. On that occasion, we hope to dedicate a friendship monument in Manila presented by the people of Israel in appreciation to the Filipino people,” he said.
"Israel has 1,301 good reasons to thank the Philippines and you Mr. President. Your nation has 1,301 good reasons to stand proud before the family of nations as a role model.”
He said Israel’s door is also open to Filipinos.
“We hope to see 540 Filipino students coming over to Israel in a unique 11-month internship in agriculture. The door is open to so many more opportunities to the benefit of our nations,” he said.
“Israel is thankful to many thousands of Filipinos who, with great hearts, are working so hard as caregivers to many Israelis in need. Those Filipinos and the Israelis they care for are Ambassadors of goodwill and another pillar of friendship,” he added.
Ambassador Matityau arrived in Manila on August 1.
He is a veteran of Israel's Foreign Service and a graduate of its Diplomatic School in 1981. He had served as a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Peace and Normalization team with Egypt.
In 1983, he served as Israel’s Deputy Consul General in Toronto, Canada. He also served as Deputy Ambassador in Nicosia-Cyprus (1985-88), Consul-Director of Israel's Academic Affairs Office to the US based in New York (1991-96), Consul General to East Australia based in Sydney (1999-2002), Acting Ambassador in Copenhagen (2004), and Ambassador to Vietnam and Laos (2005-2009), and Acting Ambassador to Ethiopia (Summer 2013).
In Jerusalem’s home office, Matityau served as Head of the Canadian Affairs and Israel's North American missions for Public Diplomacy (1988-1991), Spokesman and Deputy Director of the Press Division (1996-1999), and Head of the Overseas Development Projects and Public Private Partnership Bureau for MASHAV-Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation (2009-2014).
Israel remembers PH help during the Holocaust | ABS-CBN News
Philippine, Australia conduct joint maritime training exercise “LUMBAS 2014″
Posted on October 7, 2014 ·
Davao City, Philippines, (DWDD) — The Philippine Navy (PN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) formally started the PN-RAN Exercise LUMBAS 2014 last September 29, 2014 and will culminate on October 11, 2014 at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City.
Exercise LUMBAS is an annual combined PN and RAN Exercise being conducted in the different parts of the country on a yearly basis. For this year, the exercise was held in Davao Region conducted in three parts. The first part is the Table Top Exercise (TTX) participated by the different stakeholders coming from the PCG, PNP, BFAR, DENR-XI, PDEA, BI, BOC, RDRMC, PPA and CENRO.
The objective in this TTX is to simulate the role and cooperation of the different agencies in any given scenario. The second part is the at Sea Phase training to be conducted from Oct. 4-10, 2014 at the waters off Davao Gulf. The PN will involve two 108-foot PN Patrol Boats and one 35-meter RAN Patrol Boat with 30 RAN Crew Members.
The activities at sea will involve various scenarios like Border Protection, Anti-terrorism and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) in consonance with the status of Visiting Forces Agreement between Australia and the Philippines and the third part is the conduct of a sport activity amongst the two navies to further boost camaraderie and friendly acquaintances.
Further, the Exercise aims to enhance interoperability between PN, RAN and Inter-Agency participants focused on common operational procedures and to foster maritime cooperation between the two countries.
Philippine, Australia conduct joint maritime training exercise “LUMBAS 2014″ | DWDD