Senior defence officials from the Philippines and Singapore convene in Bohol to strengthen cooperation and discuss shared security priorities.
BOHOL — The Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines, led by Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Marita I. Yoro, CESO III, hosted the 8th Philippines–Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD) on 30 July 2025 in Bohol. The Singaporean delegation was headed by Deputy Secretary (Policy) of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Frederick Choo.
Held under the framework of the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation, the dialogue served as a platform for both sides to review the progress of bilateral defence relations, exchange perspectives on pressing regional and global security issues, and align future priorities.
Key topics discussed included maritime security challenges in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, threats to maritime chokepoints, and the vulnerability of critical underwater infrastructure. Both parties also reviewed updates to the Five-Year Defence Engagement Plan (2024–2029) and expressed support for upcoming initiatives such as urban warfare training exchanges and C-130 aircraft maintenance cooperation.
The dialogue also explored the potential for resuming negotiations on a proposed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to working within regional defence mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, with anticipation for the Philippines and Singapore’s respective hostings in 2026 and 2027.
Assistant Secretary Yoro closed the meeting by extending a renewed invitation on behalf of Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. for Singapore’s Defence Minister, Mr Chan Chun Sing, to undertake an official visit to the Philippines.
Source: Philippines Department of National Defense
