Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Monday led the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security (EWG-MS) Joint Cooperative Activity (JCA) and Future Leaders' Program (FLP) in Olongapo City, Zambales, underscoring the critical role of regional trust, cooperation, and networking in maintaining maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.
Philippines and Japan Co-Host Week-Long Maritime Exercises
Co-hosted by the Philippines and Japan as co-chairs of the ADMM-Plus EWG-MS, the JCA and FLP are scheduled from September 20 to 26, 2026, according to the Department of National Defense. The activities involve a series of harbor and sea phase operations featuring personnel, naval assets, ships, and aircraft from eight ADMM-Plus member countries.
Observers from fellow ASEAN member states and ASEAN dialogue partners were also invited to witness the exercises, the DND said.
Teodoro Calls for Deeper Networking Among Regional Navies
In his opening remarks, Secretary Teodoro outlined two core objectives he hopes the exercises will achieve among participating defense establishments and navies.
"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.
The Defense Secretary also recalled outcomes from the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience held the previous week, citing shared commitments on quicker, science-based anticipatory actions against natural calamities and the importance of secure and fast transmission of trusted information.
Free and Open Sea Lanes Cited as Critical to Effective Response
Teodoro stressed that collaboration must go beyond response operations and extend into early prepositioning, detection, and joint working arrangements. He specifically highlighted the role of free, open sea lanes of communication as a key enabler of effective and efficient disaster and security response.
"Our collaboration and cooperation not merely in response but in early prepositioning, working together, and in detection becomes more critical," the Defense Secretary said.
Future Leaders' Program Targets Junior Naval Officers
Running alongside the JCA, the Future Leaders' Program (FLP) is designed to give junior naval officers an opportunity to engage their counterparts on pressing maritime and security issues, according to the DND. Topics covered under the FLP include climate change, maritime security, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and Critical Underwater Infrastructure security.
The two activities share a unifying theme: "Enhancing Maritime Security and Environmental Resilience in Response to Climate Change," reflecting the dual mandate of the exercises to address both security and environmental challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
Teodoro Commits to Sustaining Regional Security Progress
Closing his address, Secretary Teodoro reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to the ADMM-Plus framework and to upholding shared principles among regional partners.
"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," Teodoro said.
Senior Naval Officials and Diplomats Present at Ceremony
The opening ceremony was attended by Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta. Also present were Rear Admiral Edwin M. Nera, Chief of Staff of the Philippine Navy and Co-Chair of the EWG-MS, and Rear Admiral Terada Hiroyuki of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Ret.), serving as the Japanese Co-Chair, the DND confirmed.
Members of the diplomatic corps and participating delegates from the eight ADMM-Plus countries also attended the ceremony.
By the Numbers
- 8 — ADMM-Plus countries involved in the JCA and FLP exercises
- 7 days — Duration of the activities, running September 20 to 26, 2026
- 2 — Co-chair nations: the Philippines and Japan
- 4 — Key FLP topics: climate change, maritime security, UNCLOS, and Critical Underwater Infrastructure security
Why This Matters
The ADMM-Plus JCA and FLP represent a multilateral effort to strengthen practical maritime security cooperation and build personal networks among naval officers across the Indo-Pacific — capabilities that Secretary Teodoro described as increasingly critical in an era of climate-related disasters and evolving security threats. The exercises also provide junior officers from eight nations direct exposure to shared frameworks including UNCLOS and underwater infrastructure protection, helping institutionalize cooperation at an early career stage. As the Philippines and Japan co-chair the EWG-MS, Manila's active leadership role reinforces its standing within the ASEAN defence architecture.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defense / DND Philippines