By: LTCOL OMAR L TONSAY PN(M)(GSC)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office
25 November 2011- Today, ends the 11th Annual Maritime Training Activity (MTA) between the Philippine Navy(PN) and Royal Australian Navy(RAN) dubbed as “MTA LUMBAS 2011”. It is a four day extensive and comprehensive training activity hosted by the Philippine Navy.
MTA LUMBAS 2011 is a simulated scenario based exercise designs to test the response capability to a realistic situation that will probably developed in real time. It is focused on Anti-Terrorism, Trafficking and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response involving the Philippine Navy and the Australian Border Protection Command (BPC).
BPC is a multi-agency operational authority in-charge of border protection and maritime security which is pertinent to Naval Coast Watch System Project spearheaded by the Philippine Navy. Thus, the exercise serves as an avenue to enhance the core competence of PN in maritime security, surveillance and interdiction.
The exercise envisions to strengthen the defence relationship of both countries in counter terrorism and maritime security encompassed to the Memorandum of Understand (MOU) on cooperation to combat International Terrorism and an MOU on Combating Transnational Crime 2003.
The training activity is also being participated by other government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Immigration, NBI, PDEA, BFAR and other government agencies.
PHILIPPINE NAVY