The National Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday lauded as a “strategic milestone” the first-ever joint activity between Philippine and Japanese militaries under the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).
“The NSC views this inaugural activity as a strategic milestone in the operationalization of the RAA,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement, referring to the ongoing “Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25.”
The RAA, signed and ratified by the Philippines in 2024 and approved by the Japanese Diet in June this year, entered into force last month.
The Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25 is a training exercise between units of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) that is focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). It is scheduled to be held at the Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu from Oct. 7 to 11.
The term “Doshin” translates to “same mind” in Japanese, while “Bayanihan” means “mutual support” in Filipino.
Año, the director general of NSC, said the activity reflects the “maturing” security partnership between the Philippines and Japan “grounded in shared values, mutual respect, and a common commitment to a rules-based international order.”
He thanked the Japanese government for the humanitarian support it extended to communities affected by the Sept. 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, which was concurrently undertaken with the joint training exercise.
“This dual effort underscores how the RAA can translate into direct, immediate benefits for the Filipino people, particularly in crisis response,” Año said.
About 143 PAF and 30 JASDF personnel are taking part in the Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25, according to PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco.
“Both air forces are deploying C-130 aircraft, with operations designed to simulate real-world HADR scenarios,” she said in a separate statement.
Basco said the training activities have expanded to focus on enhancing airlift, mobility, and medical operations, as well as night vision goggle flights for PAF observation. (PNA)
