West PH Sea: Australia to double allocation for civil maritime investment

MANILA, Philippines — The Australian government will allocate A$18 million (₱699.7 million) in civil maritime investment for the country starting next year.

Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown has made the announcement as Canberra increased its military engagement with Manila in previous years.

“In early 2026 … the Embassy will officially launch the next phase of Australia’s civil maritime investment in the Philippines, with a double funding allocation of $18 million,” Innes-Brown said in a West Philippine Sea forum of think tank Stratbase on Monday. 

“This investment will retain strong focus on equipment, capacity building systems and exchange and scholarship opportunities,” he also said, noting that this phase will run for four years.

Australia’s former Philippine civil maritime security program worth $9 million provided  “law of the sea training” to almost 850 government officials while funding maritime policy and law postgraduate scholarships, according to Innes-Brown.

Stratbase founder Dindo Manhit said such a move is welcome as several surveys consistently show that the majority of Filipinos support the country’s move to protect its territory and marine resources.

“We always say we put a human face for our policy,” Manhit said.

“Our interest, I think, must be to defend what’s ours, to protect our seas, to protect our archipelagic sea lanes, our archipelagic nation … People think it’s simply about transparency. But it’s putting a light on what is happening,” he continued.

Last August, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense chief Richard Marles signed a letter of intent to pursue the creation of a Defense Cooperation Agreement between both nations.

Marles also said then that Australia is pursuing eight different infrastructure projects across five different locations in the Philippines.

In the same month, both nations held their biennial military drills which former Australian ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said was the largest exercise outside Canberra this year.

Since 2023, Australia joined the Philippines in patrolling the West Philippine Sea at least six times, four of which occurred this year.

READ: AFP: No Chinese ships during West PH Sea drills with Canada, Australia

Both countries have a status of a visiting forces agreement, which enables their armed forces to conduct military drills on each other’s soil. /atm /gsg