OLONGAPO CITY (September 21, 2026) – Underscoring the importance of trust, cooperation, and networking among regional partners, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. led the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security’s (EWG-MS) Joint Cooperative Activity (JCA) and Future Leaders’ Program (FLP) on September 21.

Co-hosted by the Philippines and Japan as co-chairs of the ADMM-Plus EWG-MS, the JCA and FLP will feature a series of harbor and sea phase activities involving personnel, naval assets, ships, and aircraft from eight ADMM-Plus countries from September 20 to 26, 2026. Observers from fellow ASEAN member states and ASEAN dialogue partners were also invited.

“We hope that this exercise will be foundational in two things: number one, learning the procedures or getting familiar with the procedures and working together and cooperation; and secondly, develop, at an early stage, networking, trust, and cooperation amongst all the participants and your respective defense establishments and navies,” Secretary Teodoro said.

In his speech, the Defense Chief recalled the outcomes of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience last week, focusing on shared commitments on quicker anticipatory, science-based actions on natural calamities and disasters and the importance of secure and fast transmission of trusted information.

“Our collaboration and cooperation not merely in response but in early prepositioning, working together, and in detection becomes more critical,” Secretary Teodoro said, adding that an important avenue for effective and efficient response are free open sea lanes of communication.

Complementing the JCA, the FLP will provide junior naval officers with an opportunity to engage their counterparts on climate change, maritime security, and key topics, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Critical Underwater Infrastructure security. 

With the theme, “Enhancing Maritime Security and Environmental Resilience in Response to Climate Change,” these activities are vital in enhancing security and resilience of individual countries, the ASEAN, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

“We are committed to sustaining the significant progress we have made in our areas of practical cooperation, strengthening our solidarity, and to defending our principles, shared principles. I look forward to receiving feedback about key observations, lessons learned, and best practices from these important engagements which will guide us in navigating our future together,” Secretary Teodoro concluded.

Also present were Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta PN; RADM Edwin M. Nera PN, Chief of Staff, Philippine Navy and Co-Chair; and RADM Terada Hiroyuki JMSDF (Ret.), Co-Chair, along with members of the diplomatic corps and participating delegates. – DND