THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that it received a P34-million donation composed of drones, including operator training, from the Australian government.
In a statement, the PCG said the aerial drones were turned over by the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu in a ceremony held in Bataan.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the donation of the aerial drones will strengthen the strategic maritime domain awareness capabilities of the agency.
It added that the donation is part of the civil maritime cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Australia that includes vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, marine protection, and annual Law of the Sea courses.
Gavan said the civil maritime cooperation between the two countries was strengthened through the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation.