PH, Canada sign agreement on training of Filipino soldiers

Newly-appointed Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing for the continued training of Filipino military personnel in Canada as part of a defense cooperation program.

“Canada and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have enjoyed a strong military training partnership since 1997, and the signing allows that partnership to continue and flourish even further,” Canadian ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said in a statement on Thursday.

More than 150 Philippine military personnel have been able to train with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in training facilities in Canada, Reeder said.

“I am confident this MOU will allow both countries to expand and strengthen an already excellent relationship, as was exemplified by the excellent spirit of cooperation demonstrated by our respective military personnel in response to Typhoon Yolanda.”

The Canadian Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was among the first responders in the aftermath of Yolanda (international name Haiyan) that devastated  provinces and cities in the Visayas region.

Several Filipino-Canadians in the CAF served as liaison officers helping with the delivery of goods to vital areas. They were able to coordinate with both local government leaders and CAF relief forces for faster and more efficient operations.

The training courses Filipino military personnel can avail of include “peacekeeping and UN Mission staff courses; senior management courses, national security program, language courses on English and French, command and staff courses, civil-military relations, public affairs, and Naval boarding party training for the Philippine Navy.”