DND chief Carlito Galvez Jr. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy)
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said there is a need for the Philippines to sustain maritime security in the Southeast Asian region to sustain the country's economic growth.
"Ensuring maritime security in the region must not be viewed as our responsibility and contribution to (the) larger international community. We must view it as a way to sustain our economic growth for the actual benefit of our people," Galvez said during the Maritime Security Symposium (MSS) hosted by the Philippine Navy (PN) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig City on Tuesday, where he served as guest-of-honor and speaker.
The MSS 2023 is part of the activities leading to the PN's 125th anniversary later this month and is a prelude to its hosting of the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Navy Chiefs’ Meeting on May 10.
“Over the past five decades, ASEAN has made significant strides in promoting meaningful cooperation among its member states and beyond,” Galvez said in a separate statement provided by the DND.
He also discussed the history of ASEAN and its economic growth, as well as the region’s traditional and non-traditional security concerns.
“The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus serve as the most productive platforms for us to engage with one another and come up with innovative solutions for traditional and non-traditional concerns in the maritime domain,” Galvez added.
Meanwhile, PN vice commander, Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, opened the MSS 2023, which he described as “an avenue to discuss the significance of an ASEAN-centric approach in addressing regional challenges and to contribute to the existing security discussions and literature on the promotion of ASEAN centrality to build regional cohesion.”
“It is with high hopes that through this symposium, we may all gain insights and a deeper understanding of the necessity of a coordinated and cohesive ASEAN maritime response and how cooperation and discussions will play a vital role in the pursuit of regional cohesion,” he added.
With the theme “ASEAN at the Forefront: Emphasizing ASEAN’s Perspective, Highlighting Its Strength,” the symposium featured two-panel sessions with discussions from maritime security experts and practitioners and attended by ASEAN navies’ delegates, policymakers, representatives of other government agencies, academe, and stakeholders from the defense and security sector.
Dr. Evan Laksmana, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore, and Dr. Jay Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, talked about “The Southeast Asian Region: A Theater of Converging Challenges and Interests” during the first panel.
The second panel focused on “The ASEAN Perspective: Upholding ASEAN Centrality, Highlighting Cooperation” with discussions from Prof. Simon Tay, associate professor of the National University of Singapore-Faculty of Law, and Mr. Medardo Abad Jr., former director of the ASEAN Regional Forum Unit.
In closing, PN flag officer in command Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. called the symposium “a timely avenue for southeast Asia’s key stakeholders in upholding ASEAN principles to better contextualize the numerous security challenges.”
He also urged ASEAN navies and institutions “to recognize the importance of promoting and participating in platforms, such as the MSS, to maintain a continuous dialogue with our key stakeholders, as well as formulate and develop a common understanding of our environment to build trust, which in turn would be the bedrock for stronger avenues of cooperation amongst ourselves." (PNA)
