PH, Australia ink deals to enhance interoperability in maritime domain

The Philippines and Australia on Thursday signed three agreements expected to enhance the interoperability between the two countries' maritime environment.

''The three agreements exchanged today shall enhance information sharing, capability building, and interoperability between our relevant government agencies in the maritime domain and maritime environment, cyber and critical technology, and competition law,'' President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said in a joint press statement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Marcos was in Canberra, Australia for a two-day official visit where he addressed the Australian parliament as he sought Australia's support amid regional threats. 

''The three agreements add to the more than 120 agreements that our two countries have signed through the decades. And these are in various fields, including defense cooperation, air services, education, research, scientific and cultural cooperation, amongst others,'' Marcos said.

The Australian government said that Marcos and Albanese signed the following Memoranda of Understanding to implement key priorities of the two countries' strategic partnership:

• Enhanced Maritime Cooperation to strengthen our existing civil and defense maritime commitments;
• Cyber and critical technology to harden our resilience against cyber attacks and encourage cooperation on the digital economy; and
• Cooperation between our national competition commissions to enhance effective competition law and policy

Meanwhile, Marcos said the Philippine government recognizes Australia’s indisputable role as a regional stabilizer. 

''As a flourishing democracy and a staunch advocate of the rules-based order and rule of law, Australia responsibly discharges its economic and strategic capacity, thereby sustaining the regional framework that has allowed us to experience unprecedented growth and peace,'' he said. 

''The Philippines fully adheres to the same set of values, making our two countries natural partners in the region,'' Marcos added.

For his part, Albanese said Australia is honored that the Philippines is a close friend and strategic partner.

''For more than three quarters of a century, our nations have been bound by strategic trust and mutual cooperation,'' Albanese said.

Albanese said the deal on enhanced maritime cooperation will promote the shared vision for the region including in civil maritime security, marine environment protection, maritime domain awareness and promoting respect for international law.

''We’ll also continue our maritime cooperative activities as regional partners committed to doing our part to sustain peace and stability in our region,'' Albanese said. — KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News