Australia will provide at least ₱413 million worth of drone technology and operator training to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to strengthen its maritime security, search and rescue, and environmental protection operations.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the four-year assistance package on Tuesday while in Manila for ASEAN meetings hosted by the Philippines.
The package includes long-range, heavy-lift, and underwater drones, counter-drone technology, and specialized training for PCG personnel.
Wong said the support would improve the PCG’s maritime domain awareness and help protect Filipinos who depend on safe and open seas for their livelihoods and trade.
“This PHP413 million drone package benefits not just the Philippines’ maritime security agencies, but the millions of everyday Filipinos who rely on an open and accessible maritime domain for their livelihoods and commerce,” Wong said in a statement released by the Australian Embassy in Manila.
“We are proud to stand with the Philippine Coast Guard as they work to enhance maritime security and uphold international law in our region,” she added.
The new assistance raises Australia’s total drone support for the PCG to ₱578 million since April 2025.
Wong also announced that Australia would double its bilateral civil maritime assistance to the Philippines to ₱678 million through the new four-year Civil Maritime Advancement through Partnerships and Support, or C-MAPS, investment.
C-MAPS will focus on civil maritime security and marine environmental protection.
Wong said the additional assistance forms part of Australia and the Philippines’ commitment to promoting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.
