Manila, March 21 -- The Philippines and the United States have completed a bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in Manila Bay and waters off Mariveles, Bataan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday.

Dubbed as Bilateral MCA 26-3.1, the latest drills, completed on Friday, aimed to enhance interoperability among the participating units of the AFP, the US Indo-Pacific Command, and the Philippine Coast Guard to support sustained maritime security and response within the country's maritime zones.

"The successful conduct of the MCA reflected the continuing commitment of the Philippines and the United States to strengthen coordination and cooperation in promoting regional maritime security, stability, and adherence...