Philippine, Japan forces hold exercises on disaster response

CEBU, Philippines — Japanese Self-Defense Force were in Cebu for the five-day disaster response capabilities with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase.

This bilateral exercise with Japan aims to enhance Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) while also strengthening camaraderie with their counterparts in the Philippine Air Force.

According to First Tactical Airlift Wing of JASDF, Lieutenant Colonel Shotaro Arai, they were satisfied with the partnership for which it benefited not only on disaster preparedness but strengthened defense cooperation.

“I think this exercise is a very great opportunity to improve our relationship with the Philippines… We are improving our capability day by day so I say Japan and Philippines, both of us have good capability,” said Arai in Japanese.

PAF C-130 Pilot and Chief Operations, Major Bryan Jay M. Parajas, highlighted the good implication of such exercises, stating that "Of course it was good, maganda po yung na perform natin na exercise. This time po mas lalo nating na enhance ulit yung capability natin especially when it comes to disaster relief response. Hopefully, magkakaroon pa po tayo ng maraming exercise."

The exercise was participated by 127 personnel from the PAF and 33 from the JASDF. It featured two C-130 cargo aircraft—one from each country—conducting Low-Cost Low-Altitude (LCLA) airdrop simulations, delivering essential supplies to areas that may be inaccessible during emergencies.

The participants flew from the Mactan airbase to Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City and conducted an actual airdrop simulation.

Other activities included loading/unloading drills, aeromedical evacuation, and exchanges of expertise among subject matter experts.

A formation fly of the two C-130 was also made, which symbolizes their joint forces in the growing bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Doshin-Bayanihan 2024 is part of the newly signed military agreement between the Philippines and Japan which was signed in July this year, allowing the deployment of forces on each country’s territory. — Jonavie Villa (FREEMAN)