The Philippine Navy and Royal Australian Navy have begun its five-day maritime training activity (MTA) in Cebu on Monday.The bilateral exercise, dubbed as “MTA Lumbas 2008,” will run until September 26 and is the sixth combined training activity between the two countries. The training will focus on interoperability enhancement, coordinated or combined maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The training will also strengthen camaraderie between the two navies. Captain Nodolfo V. Tejada PN (GSC) is the designated commander for this training activity with Lieutenant Commander Robert Davies Ran from Australia as deputy commander.
Captain Honorio Robert Balanon Jr. PN (GSC), Naval Forces Central Commander and director of MTA Lumbas 2008, officiated the opening ceremony. Captain Vic Jones Ran, the Australian Defense attache, also participates in the training. | 
