The funding will be used to support the Philippine Coast Guard 's "infrastructure improvements, training program development, and acquisition and resource management planning," the South China Morning Post reported, citing an October 28 announcement from the US Embassy in Manila.
The US embassy added that at the bilateral maritime dialogue in Manila last week, the two sides "reviewed ongoing cooperative efforts and discussed ways for the two sides to work together to address current challenges and shared maritime concerns, particularly in the South China Sea ."
Washington's pledge of support for Manila comes at a time of rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific , a vast region whose natural resources and commercially vital waterways have made it a "top regional priority" for the US Coast Guard , according to the South China Morning Post .
In a statement released on October 25, the US Coast Guard said it will continue to expand its presence and cooperation in Southeast Asia and South Asia, focusing on training, deployment and capacity building.
The largest and most modern vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard are the multi-purpose response vessels BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino. These two ships are 97 meters long and have a displacement of 2,260 tons, built in Japan and will be commissioned in 2022, according to the South China Morning Post .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
