Philippines, Australia navies start joint training exercises in Lumbas 2012MANILA - The Philippine and Australian navies will  kick-off Monday, October 22, joint training exercises that aim to  enhance both countries' capability on anti-terrorism, human and drug  trafficking, and disaster response.
 Over 300 navy personnel from the Philippines and Australia  will participate in the 12th annual Maritime Training Activity  (MTA) between the Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)  dubbed "Lumbas 2012."
 The five-day exercises will be held aboard HMAS Sydney in  South Harbor Manila and will be participated by other agencies such as  the  Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Group-Philippine National Police,  Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug  Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
 In a training directive, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice  Admiral Alexander Pama said that the training activity will also  "enhance competency of the navies in naval and maritime security  operations through subject matter expert exchange activities.”
 The exercises will include realistic, scenario-based  exercises focused on anti-terrorism, illegal human and drug trafficking,  and humanitarian assistance/disaster response involving the  Philippine Navy and the Australian Border Protection Command (BPC).
 The Philippine Navy also aims to enhance its competencies  in maritime security, surveillance, and interdiction with the help of  the Australian BPC.
 The Philippine Navy will send the Barko ng Republika ng  Pilipnas (BRP) Mariano Alvarez (PS3

, the BRP Beinvenido Salping  (PG112), and a component from the Naval Special Operations  Group (Navsog) to participate in the exercise.
 The exercises are also aimed to enhance and develop  camaraderie among participating personnel through shiprider program and  social interaction.