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CAB seeking to expand India air service agreement

REUTERS

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) wants to expand its air service agreement with India, as Air India launches a Delhi-Manila service by October.

“Air India is flying, that is good because India is a big market, a growing economy with a lot of outbound travelers,” CAB Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing this week.

Air India announced that it is launching direct service five times a week between the two countries’ capitals starting Oct. 1.

Mr. Arcilla said the CAB is also in talks with India for possible air service to other destinations in India.

“I think that when the main gateway is developed, the secondary gateways will follow. It takes a lot of resources to develop secondary gateways,” he said.

The CAAP has said that Air India is optimistic about the possible economic and cultural impact of direct services.

The Department of Transportation has said that it is undertaking consultations for further air service agreements with India, the US, Australia, Thailand, the UK, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Ethiopia, Oman and the Seychelles. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Gov’t-funded vessel to bring fish buyers to WPS fisherfolk

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

THE GOVERNMENT will fund a vessel, the MV Mamalakaya, that will carry fish buyers seeking to directly purchase the West Philippine Sea (WPS) catch.

The buyers on board will be ready “to purchase the fresh catch of Filipino fishermen at sea,” the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said in a statement.

The program is designed to reduce post-harvest losses and increase fisherfolk income, it added.

“In addition, fisherfolk will benefit from fuel and ice subsidies, enabling them to continue fishing activities in the WPS amid operational and environmental challenges.”

The BFAR said the WPS plays “a crucial role in national security and food sovereignty. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PEZA sees Chinese interest in locating, expanding in PHL

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said some Chinese companies have expressed interest in expanding current operations or locating in the Philippines.

“PEZA has received numerous inquiries lately, and we see the same sentiments coming from the companies we met in Shenzhen,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said in a statement on Thursday.

“Surely, this is the best time for the Philippines to host their operations, and we in PEZA assure that with the President at the forefront of this move, we will make it happen in the Philippines,” he added.

PEZA participated in a three-day investment mission organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou and the American Chamber of Commerce in South China in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Guangzhou.

PEZA participated in a business forum and business-to-business (B2B) meetings during the event.

“Apart from the forum, PTIC Guangzhou also organized B2B meetings for the PEZA team to meet with companies interested in transferring their operations to the Philippines due to its proximity to China and the impact of the US-China trade war, among many other reasons,” PEZA said.

“These companies are into medical device manufacturing, garments, e-commerce, and electronics sectors and are yet to make any concrete decisions as they are still in the exploratory phase,” it added.

PEZA also conducted a facility tour with Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic Co., Ltd. which has a unit currently operating at the Lima Technology Center in Batangas.

“Grandsun reaffirmed its commitment to expanding operations in the Philippines in the coming years, with plans to bring their whole supply chain to the country and eventually manufacture their full product line domestically,” it said.

Meanwhile, PEZA also met with the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) Dongguan to discuss collaboration with Dongguan’s business community.

“Noteworthy, some members of CCOIC have conducted an exploratory business mission to the Philippines on April 25-26 to learn more about the business environment of the Philippines and to visit selected ecozones in Laguna and Batangas,” PEZA said.

PEZA said that it is bullish on the entry of multinational companies, especially those with operations in China.

“With the growing interest in the Philippines as the new ‘plus one’ preferred destination in ASEAN by relocating companies from China, we are confident that we can do a quick turnover and welcome these companies as new locators,” said Mr. Panga.

“We must not further delay the relocation of these companies from China to the Philippines in order to secure our position in this evolving regional market.”

According to PEZA, China remains one of the country’s top investment partners, accounting for 22% of total foreign investments.

Within economic zones, Chinese companies accounted for $406 million in exports and 16,000 jobs.

PEZA has achieved 24% of its approval target for the year, after greenlighting P66.34 billion worth of investment pledges in the first five months.

These investments feature companies from South Korea, the US, China, Japan, and the Netherlands.

“As the global business landscape shifts under the China+2 strategy, the Philippines stands ready to serve as a strategic partner in enhancing regional resilience,” Mr. Panga said.

“Through stronger economic ties with China, PEZA is committed to fostering mutual prosperity, fortifying supply chains, and creating a more agile and sustainable investment ecosystem in Asia,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL offers ‘denuded’ forest land to investors

THE PHILIPPINES will open 1.2 million hectares of “denuded” forest land to private investors, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Half of the 1.2 million hectares of land to be offered to the private sector beginning June 26 has been set aside for reforestation ventures, Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of a biodiversity forum.

“You need to reforest the half, and then you utilize the other half,” he said.

The government will open another one million hectares of land every year until 2027.

The government’s previous purely conservation-focused approach does not work, Mr. David said, noting that it is impossible for the government to reforest one million hectares a year.

“This is now a scheme wherein we involve the private sector and other groups… to reforest the area,” he said. “And for some, they need some economic activity to sustain that.”

Asked whether private partners will need to obtain free, prior and informed consent, a prerequisite for building on indigenous land, Mr. David said: “Half of the 1.2 million hectares is outside IP (indigenous people) areas.”

The DENR said in March that the national greening program had targeted the planting of 1.5 billion seedlings between 2011 and 2015.

“However, data shows that between 2011 and 2023, 1.8 billion seedlings had been planted,” it said. “Sadly, survivability was at best between 60% to 80%.”

The DENR seeks to grow five million trees from non-invasive species by 2028.

Mr. David said the private firms participating in the new reforestation program are involved in agro-forestry, timber production, and the carbon credits market, he said.

Participants also include businesses involved in eco-tourism and renewable energy, he added.

He said the parcels of land available will be posted on an online portal. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

13 green-lane projects currently operational

Specialized drones. The operations and maintenance of AboitizPower’s Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Power facility (pictured) is supported by drone technology, allowing for precision and boosting maintenance efficiency.

THE Board of Investments (BoI) said 13 green-lane projects worth a combined P207.985 billion are currently operational, of the 211 projects endorsed to the One Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI).

Of the 13 that started operations, four are renewable energy (RE) projects, two are digital infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, six are food security projects, and one is a manufacturing project.

“The 13 operational projects currently utilizing the green lane initiative offer valuable insights into its effectiveness,” BoI Investment Assistant Service and OSACSI Director Ernesto C. delos Reyes, Jr. said via Viber.

He said the endorsement for expedited permit processing and the support provided by the OSACSI and the designated green-lane officer from the relevant agency, “significantly accelerates the process of obtaining permits and clearances.”

“This comprehensive assistance not only streamlines bureaucratic procedures but also fosters a more efficient workflow, enabling timely project execution and enhancing overall productivity,” he added.
Meanwhile, four projects are in pre-operational status; these include two RE projects, one food security project, and one manufacturing project.

Some 34 projects are under construction, including 20 RE projects, four digital infrastructure and PPP projects, seven food security projects, and three manufacturing projects.

The majority of the projects are in pre-development, including 139 RE projects, three digital infrastructure and PPP projects, 17 food security projects, and one manufacturing project.

As of June 5, Mr. Delos Reyes said the OSACSI has approved P5.239 trillion worth of projects for green-lane treatment.

“This endorsement highlights a strong emphasis on RE, demonstrating the country’s commitment to global climate goals,” he said.

“Additionally, the strategic integration of initiatives focused on enhancing digital infrastructure and ensuring food security aims to strengthen the nation’s resilience and advance its digital transformation agenda,” he added.

RE projects still account for 78.20%, of the list, with a total project cost of P4.788 trillion. These comprise 165 projects.

Meanwhile, nine are digital infrastructure and PPP projects worth P364.877 billion, followed by 31 food security projects worth P18.698 billion and six manufacturing projects worth P66.955 billion.

“The emphasis on food security, along with a renewed focus on manufacturing, is expected to foster a diverse and future-ready economy,” Mr. Delos Reyes said.

“Overall, these projects are anticipated to create over 309,000 jobs, and with P1.66 trillion in foreign investment, global investors are showing strong confidence in the Philippines,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Gov’t ‘satisfied’ with progress of trade negotiations with US

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, April 2, 2025. — REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES is “satisfied” with the progress of trade talks with the US weeks ahead of Washington’s deadline to wrap up talks by mid-July, Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro of the Presidential Communications Office said.

She could provide no details at a briefing on Thursday, because the talks are covered by a confidentiality agreement, other than to say that the two sides are in “constant communication.”

The US government on Wednesday asked its trading partners to submit their best offers, including tariff and quota commitments for US industrial and agricultural products, as well as proposals to address non-tariff barriers, Reuters reported.

The US will evaluate the responses within days and offer “a possible landing zone” that could include a reciprocal tariff rate, according to the letter.

Asked whether the Philippines had received any such official communication, Ms. Castro said the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs declined to comment.

“There is a deadline (on the 90-day pause), but we cannot discuss the other deadline (on the best-offer proposals)due to the confidentiality agreements,” Ms. Castro said. “But talks are constant.”
Manila has expressed a commitment to securing a favorable agreement that will support its economic priorities and strengthen bilateral trade relations with Washington.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations does not support retaliatory measures.

He said “unexpected trade barriers” could disrupt communities, supply chains and the regional bloc’s hard-earned progress.

Last month, Philippine officials met with the US Trade Representative to negotiate the 17% reciprocal tariff assigned to the Philippines.

In early April, US President Donald J. Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on most trading partners. The reciprocal tariffs have since been paused for 90 days. A baseline 10% tariff remains in effect for most countries.

The US was the Philippines’ top export market last year, receiving $12.12 billion worth of Philippine goods. It was also the Philippines’ fifth-largest source of imports, accounting for $8.17 billion.

The Philippines’ top exports to the US are semiconductors, electronic integrated circuits, and insulated wire and other insulated electric conductors.

Top imports from the US are soybeans, electronic integrated circuits, and wheat and meslin. — Chloe Marie A. Hufana

Magnolia clashes with NLEX for Philippine Cup solo leadership

Photo Credit: PBA

Games on Friday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – TNT vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs NLEX

SLOWLY, injury-hit TNT is inserting pieces to its grand slam bid in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.

Dealing with health issues that sidelined guards Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac and recently, Jelo Razon, the Tropang 5G recalled Almond Vosotros last week then acquired two backcourt studs from Converge, Jordan Heading and Mike Nieto.

Fil-Australian Mr. Heading was traded for Mikey Williams while Mr. Nieto was picked up as a free agent.

More good news, big man Brandon Ganuelas Rosser is back on active duty after a long layoff from ACL, posting five points and eight rebounds as TNT stormed to a 94-70 romp over NorthPort on Friday for its fifth straight win off a fumbling 0-3 start.

On Thursday, the reigning Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup titlists activated Messrs. Heading and Nieto ahead of their duel with also-ran Blackwater (1-7) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. They replaced Ping Exciminiano and CJ Payawal in Chot Reyes’ active roster.

It’s not immediately known if the two will plunge into action straight away versus the Bossing, having only a couple of practices with the group and with Mr. Heading recovering from back spasms.

The TNT-Blackwater showdown fires off at 5 p.m., preceding the marquee battle between co-leaders Magnolia and NLEX at 7:30 p.m.

The Hotshots and the Road Warriors engage in a dispute for the solo lead at 8-2 and prime position in the tight race for the coveted Top 4 seeding and twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Going to Friday’s slate, Magnolia and NLEX are only a victory ahead of the chase pack — San Miguel Beer (6-2), Barangay Ginebra (6-3), Rain or Shine (6-3), TNT (5-3), Converge (6-4) and defending champion Meralco (6-5).

“We will go for it (playoffs incentive),” said Magnolia mentor Chito Victolero, whose team quickly moved on from Sunday’s “Manila Clasico” embarrassment that saw them squander a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and concede an 81-85 loss to Ginebra.

“We can’t dwell on that. We focus on NLEX, our next game. So we will prepare hard to get that.” — Olmin Leyba

Kevin Quiambao eyes spot in NBA Summer League

Kevin Quiambao/Photo Credit:UAAP

ANOTHER Filipino baller is out to shoot his shot in the NBA.

Gilas Pilipinas forward Kevin Quiambao is flying to the United States next week for a personal training with hopes of landing a spot in the NBA Summer League — and ultimately the NBA down the road.

The two-time UAAP MVP will begin his journey with a training session in Sacramento, California, where he’s also hoping to meet Kings assistant coach and former Gilas captain Jimmy Alapag.

From there, Mr. Quiambao will seek full exposure and connection for a slot in the NBA Summer League set on July 10 to 20 in Las Vegas, following the footsteps of Gilas teammate Kai Sotto.

Mr. Sotto, the 7-foot-3 Filipino wunderkind, went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Rookie Draft but saw action in the 2023 NBA Summer League before finding his home in the Japan B.League.

Mr. Quiambao announced his decision during the launch of his own collaborative sneaker with adidas, making the most out of his availability while the Korean Basketball League (KBL) is in the offseason break.

The 24-year-old De La Salle University product is coming off an explosive debut year in his international pro league with the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the KBL as he averaged all-around numbers of 16.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals.

Mr. Quiambao only played 23 games after having to finish his La Salle stint first in the UAAP as Goyang finished with a 19-35 slate en route to an early exit at eighth place in the 10-team KBL.

He recently signed an extension with the Skygunners until 2027 but that doesn’t mean his ultimate NBA dream is already out of the picture.

Aside from trying his NBA luck, Mr. Quiambao’s US training is also part of his personal preparations for Gilas’ campaign in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on Aug. 5 to 17 in Saudi Arabia. — John Bryan Ulanday

Boisson lights up French Open; Sinner and Djokovic book semifinal showdown

PARIS — Wild card Lois Boisson lit up the French Open on Wednesday when the home hope downed sixth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster meeting with world number one Jannik Sinner.

While Sinner stretched his Grand Slam winning streak to 19 matches after back-to-back titles at the US Open last year and the Australian Open in January, Boisson, ranked 361st, thrilled the home crowd with a dazzling performance.

Three-time French Open winner Novak Djokovic stole the show in the evening by outlasting German third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to remain in the hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title at the venue of his Olympic gold medal last year.

Victory after three hours and 17 minutes was the 38-year-old Serbian’s 101st win at Roland Garros but he had to draw from his seemingly endless reserves of energy and experience to prevail.

Sinner was barely troubled as he defeated Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 and became the first Italian man to reach six Grand Slam semi-finals.

BOISSON SPARKLES
Earlier Boisson became the toast of France after staging the tournament’s biggest upset with a 7-6(6), 6-3 win over Andreeva, who had been tipped as a title contender, in an electrifying match that had the home crowd on the edge of their seats.

The 22-year-old had stunned third seed Jessica Pegula in round four, but on Wednesday pulled off another major shock, beating Andreeva, who had not lost a set in the tournament.

“Every player dreams of winning a Slam — and for a French player, Roland Garros even more so. I’ll go for it because my dream is to win the final, not the semi-final,” Boisson said.

Andreeva, the 18-year-old sixth seed who was bidding to become the youngest female player to reach back-to-back French Open semi-finals in nearly three decades, quickly found herself chasing Boisson’s fierce forehand.

The underdog, who has been a breath of fresh air in the tournament with her no-nonsense power game and down-to-earth approach, looked to have run out of steam as Andreeva went 3-0 up but she proceeded to win the next six consecutive games.

Andreeva repeatedly lost her temper and was handed a warning when she fired a ball into the stands in frustration.

With the home crowd the loudest it had been since the start, chants of “Lois, Lois” echoed across the Philippe Chatrier court, with the decibel level lifted even further because the roof was closed due to rain.

Boisson, who will jump almost 300 places in the rankings next week, will face 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, who came out on top in an error-ridden quarterfinal against Australian Open champion Madison Keys with the pair littering the court with 101 unforced errors.

UNFORCED ERRORS
With a total of 49 unforced errors in the first set alone they both struggled to hold serve and Gauff, a semi-finalist in Paris last year, wasted a set point before Keys, who reached the French Open last four in 2018, edged ahead with a tiebreak win.

Gauff, who reached the final in 2022 and is the youngest woman to claim 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis (1995-2000), bounced back to win the next two sets.

“So many unforced errors,” Gauff, who also had 10 double faults, said to herself after sinking another easy baseline shot into the net.

“I was just trying to be aggressive,” the 21-year-old Gauff said. “Usually if you’re playing too passive, in the end the more aggressive player is going to win. I knew in the second and the third that I had to try my best.” — Reuters

Dismissing Thibodeau

It took the Knicks exactly three days to move on from Tom Thibodeau, never mind that the bench tactician led them to their first conference finals appearance in a quarter of a century. Evidently, they believed the roster they constructed following a number of splashy moves deserved to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy — and that he was the single biggest reason they proved unable to even compete for it. Per the grapevine, the decision of the front office was made after a series of meetings with key players. At this point, though, how they came up with it is irrelevant; the bottom line is that they were so moved as to absorb the remaining $33 million of his salary following an extension last year.

That said, Thibodeau’s dismissal has rightly polarized National Basketball Association circles. After all, it can be argued that the Knicks’ absolutism effectively disregards the success with and to which he steered them since occupying the hot seat at the turn of the decade. He took them to the playoffs four times in five seasons, and progressively — from the first round to the East semifinals twice to the just-concluded best-of-seven affair against the Pacers. And it’s not as if he had an ideal lineup at his disposal. In fact, it was uneven at best; such notables as All-NBA selections Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are veritable offensive greats, but likewise sieves on the other end of the court. At the same time, the likes of Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson thrived on defense, but are far from dependable in producing points.

No doubt, the dichotomy handicapped the Knicks under pressure. They may have had a top-five offense in terms of points per 100 possessions, but they relied strongly on isolation sets that became predictable and less efficient against elite defenses that had time to formulate countermeasures in the postseason. Meanwhile, they encountered difficulty improving on their middling coverage. And as evidenced by their losses to the Pacers, their lack of versatility and creativity both ways did them in.

So, yes, Thibodeau is hardly perfect. As even casual observers of the pro scene know, he has a predilection for giving his First Five heavy minutes — all but running them to the ground by the time they go deep in the playoffs. Not for nothing did Hart lead the league in minutes played per contest, with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby also ranking in the top five. Including Brunson and Towns, every single Knicks starter finished in the Top 20 out of a cohort of 150. Considering his obvious penchant for keeping his rotations tight, management did have cause to wonder whether he was fit to keep steering the blue and orange in the pace-and-space era.

There is also Thibodeau’s no-nonsense approach to his craft, which can come off as grating to his charges. Reports have cited his fractured relationships with both those he presided over and those to whom he reported. The manner in which Knicks President Leon Rose announced his exit and cited the need for a leadership change to achieve the franchise’s championship aspirations indicated that internal dynamics played a role in the decision. They have the right to shape their future as they see fit, of course, but it remains to be seen if their latest move will enable them to keep forging ahead and ultimately fulfill their championship aspirations.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications,
and business development.

PSE index slips as shares mostly move sideways

BW FILE PHOTO

THE MAIN INDEX inched lower on Thursday, with trading mostly range-bound before the long weekend and as players sold index stocks.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.02% or 1.77 points to close at 6,376.79, while the broader all shares index rose by 0.28% or 10.64 points to 3,779.22.

Philippine markets are closed on Friday (June 6) in observance of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

“This Thursday, the PSEi saw sideways movement and closed in the negative territory… The market’s marginal decline is attributed mainly to the selling of index heavyweights such as SM Investments Corp., Manila Electric Co., and BDO Unibank, Inc.,” Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

“Philippine and US equities delivered a mixed performance, weighed down by the weakest private sector hiring in two years, tepid payroll gains, and a slipping dollar, all fueling investor caution,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. “Price action was fairly muted given that the May consumer price index (CPI) came in within many analysts’ expectations.”

Philippine headline inflation eased to 1.3% in May from 1.4% in April and 3.9% in the same month last year due to lower utilities and transport costs. This marked the lowest CPI in over five years or since the 1.2% logged in November 2019.

This matched the median estimate in a BusinessWorld poll of 17 analysts conducted last week.

Almost all sectoral indices closed higher on Thursday. Property increased by 1.1% or 25.09 points to 2,289.40; services rose by 0.63% or 13.86 points to 2,203.86; holding firms went up by 0.42% or 22.88 points to 5,438.94; mining and oil climbed by 0.18% or 18.70 points to 9,889.52; and industrials inched up by 0.06% or 5.79 points to 8,953.75.

Meanwhile, financials declined by 1.11% or 26.53 points to 2,349.74.

“Sector indices were mostly up with the property taking the lead. Banks were the only losers. The move of both sectors can be attributed to expectations of an aggressive policy easing by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) following our slow inflation print in May,” Mr. Tantiangco said. “Lower interest rates may boost property demand but may also put pressure on banks’ margins.”

“Of the index members, Alliance Global Group, Inc. closed on top, jumping 11.22% to P9.32. China Banking Corp. was at the tail end, plunging 9.13% to P65.70,” he added.

Value turnover inched up to P6.31 billion on Thursday with 912.52 million shares exchanged from the P6.3 billion with 739.87 million issues traded on Wednesday.

Decliners edged out advancers, 101 versus 100, while 48 names were unchanged.

Net foreign buying was at P85.99 million on Thursday versus the P129.6 million in net selling recorded on Wednesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Chinese Navy ship spotted as PHL’s newest frigate launches 1st mission

THE BRP MIGUEL MALVAR. — ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

SUBIC FREEPORT, ZAMBALES — A Chinese Navy ship was spotted during joint maritime drills between the Philippines and US on Wednesday, as Filipino sailors aboard the country’s newest warship sought to familiarize themselves with the vessel alongside their counterparts to enhance interoperability.

A People’s Liberation Army-Navy destroyer was seen monitoring the Philippine-US exercise in the South China Sea about 43 nautical miles (79 kilometers) west of the Zambales coast, Captain Paul Michael P. Hechanova, commander of BRP Miguel Malvar, said.

“We were able to detect it on our radar with a range of eight to 10 nautical miles [from the ship] using our sensors, our radar and our electro-optics system,” he told reporters aboard the ship after the sea drill on Wednesday evening. “They even launched their helicopter.”

“We were not hampered by their presence,” he added, noting that they wanted to maximize the opportunity to train alongside US forces.

The Philippines conducted a maritime patrol and exercise with the US in the South China Sea for the seventh time, deploying its newest warship — BRP Miguel Malvar — along with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and helicopter.

The US sent a detachment of marines stationed in Zambales province and a sea reconnaissance plane as part of the drill’s targeting exercises.

“A part of our drill is to test the ranges of our sensor because our warship is new,” Mr. Hechanova said. “We also had a simulated firing activity with the aid of our US counterparts doing all the maritime surveillance activity.”

The Philippines and US, which are long-time treaty allies, are working together to bolster defense coordination amid increased Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, a key global trade route that is believed to be rich in minerals and oil deposits.

The two nations agreed to hold “maritime cooperative activities” in the contested waters to help bolster their forces’ interoperability at sea. The exercise on Wednesday was the third for the year and seventh overall since the drills began in 2023.

The BRP Miguel Malvar is armed with missiles and torpedo systems and fitted with sonar, radar and electronic warfare capabilities. It was built by South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.

The namesake of its class ship, the Philippine frigate left South Korea in late March and was commissioned in late May.

Mr. Hechanova said the exercise helped the crew to familiarize themselves with the ship’s combat management system. The drill was simulated, he said. “We didn’t use the ship’s actual equipment.”

“The mission provided a valuable opportunity to evaluate the ship’s performance in a multilateral environment and assess its readiness to operate,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a separate statement on Thursday.

The Philippine Navy captain said they anticipated the presence of Chinese forces near the exercise area. “They’ve been there almost all the time in every activity at sea.”

“As regional dynamics evolve, the maritime cooperative activity underscores the importance of working together to safeguard peace, stability and a rule-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Philippine military said.

In a related development, the Chinese Embassy in Manila urged the Philippines not to “fantasize” about relying on outside forces to resolve the South China Sea dispute, and urged the European Union (EU) to stop “provoking trouble.”

An embassy spokesperson made the comments after EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas visited the Philippine capital and voiced concern over China’s activities in the busy waterway, where its claims overlap those of some Southeast Asian nations.

“The EU is not a party to the South China Sea disputes and has no right to interfere in the South China Sea differences between China and the Philippines,” the spokesperson said in a statement posted on the embassy website.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment. — with Reuters

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