Photo by JUN DUMAGUING | 

Amphibious armored vehicles (AAV) are parked at the beach in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone upon their arrival on Sunday, September 30, for Exercise Kamandag, a bilateral exercise between armed forces of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America, which formally started at the Subic Bay International Airport Monday, October 1.

Kamandag, an acronym for the Filipino phrase “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat”, which translate to “Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea”, is a military exercise which will focus on enhancing counter-terrorism capabilities, humanitarian assistance and relief capabilities, and conduct of civic assistance projects. A contingent from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) will also be joining the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief component of the said exercise.