Manila, July 7 -- The Philippines will be getting five newly-retired "Abukuma"-class destroyers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), boosting its naval capabilities, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday.

"Administrative details na lang ang inaayos pero done na yun (Administrative details are being finalized but it's already a done deal)," Teodoro said when asked by journalists for updates on the project.

The general-purpose warships are part of Japan's Official Security Assistance, which is a new cooperation framework started in April 2023.

Teodoro said the provision of the frigates is a "sign of goodwill" from the Japanese government, along with deals including radars and ...