Australia to Aid PCG with P110-M Worth of Additional Drones, Tech

15 Juli 2025

In April 2025 Australia donated 20 drones to PCG worth PHP 34 million (photo: Australia in the Philippines)

MANILA – Australia is set to provide PHP110 million worth of additional drones and maritime domain awareness-related technology to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), outgoing Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu announced Friday.

Speaking at the Stratbase ADRI forum in Makati City, Yu said the new assistance package would be delivered over the next couple of years and would include not only equipment but also training and integration support.

“Our commitment goes further than physical assets. It also includes operational training, support, and an integration package,” she said.

“This capability uplift is another example of Australia's ongoing commitment to provide tangible assistance to the Philippines to boost its maritime domain awareness.”

The new assistance is in addition to the PHP34 million worth of drones and operator training Australia has recently provided to the PCG.

In April, Australia turned over 20 world-class aerial drones to the Philippines, equipment it hopes would bolster the PCG’s strategic maritime domain awareness capabilities.

The drones were given as part of Canberra’s civil maritime cooperation with Manila, which also includes vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, marine protection, and annual Law of the Sea courses.

Beyond the provision of equipment, Canberra is stepping up its cyber support for the PCG, citing its role as a front-liner not only at sea but also in the country’s cyberspace.

“Through the DFAT’s (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Southeast Asia and Pacific Cyber Program, we are stepping up cyber capacity building support to the Philippines as a priority partner country,” she said.

“Australia is committed to supporting the PCG, the Philippine National Police, and various other departments as they work to boost their capabilities to mitigate and respond to cyber incidents.”

Last year, Yu announced that Australia would double its civil maritime cooperation commitment with the Philippines to PHP649 million from 2025 to 2029. 

(PNA)