Strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region

How does the Philippine National Maritime Center oversee maritime security operations?

It plays a pivotal role in monitoring security threats and safeguarding Philippine waters. The center collects, processes, and shares maritime intelligence—particularly with law enforcement agencies—to ensure effective surveillance and coordinate operations with key stakeholders. Its missions include tackling piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental threats, such as coral reef destruction.

What impact does the CRIMARIO II project have?

CRIMARIO II is a critical driver in strengthening maritime security in the Philippines. It bolsters capacities through tools such as the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform, which aims to facilitate information exchange, improve inter-agency coordination, and protect the environment. For example, in summer 2024, when the oil tanker MT Terra Nova sank off the coast of Limay in Bataan province, spilling 1.5 million liters of fuel oil, we coordinated a response—thanks in part to IORIS—that mobilized the Philippine Coast Guard and various other agencies. As a result, more than 97% of the spilled oil was recovered. CRIMARIO II also delivers training programs to strengthen analytical capabilities for assessing and responding to maritime threats.

What are the priorities for interregional cooperation in the area?

We aim to continue reinforcing maritime security and deepening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Ongoing engagement with regional and international stakeholders—such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and others—is essential to strengthening our national legal framework. We are also developing capacity-building programs for regional partners such as Vietnam and Papua New Guinea. These efforts are made possible through support from the European Union, which, via CRIMARIO II, enables us to respond to present and future challenges while fostering robust and mutually beneficial regional cooperation.