(UPDATE) THE five-day bilateral maritime exercises with the Royal Australian Navy that ended on Saturday have equipped Philippine Navy (PN) personnel with the knowledge and skill to handle ships with anti-submarine capabilities, such as the one purchased by the government and which is expected to arrive soon, to beef up security in the West Philippine Sea.

The 23rd iteration of Exercise Lumbas 2023 that began on July 18 saw around 100 PN personnel aboard BRP (Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas) Conrado Yap train in anti-submarine warfare alongside at least 191 of their Australian counterparts onboard HMAS (His Majesty's Australian Ship) Anzac.