PR-43-2025

Left to Right: Guestbook signing at the RMCC, CDA, and RMC Saint-Jean

17 April 2025, Ottawa – A delegation from the Philippine Military Academy, led by its Superintendent, VADM CAESAR BERNARD N VALENCIA PN, visited the Canadian Defense Academy (CDA) and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) in Kingston, Ontario, and the Royal Military College (RMC) Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec from 10 to 14 April 2025 to foster collaboration in enriching the skills and character development programs of Philippine and Canadian military academies and colleges.

Left to Right: Meetings with the leadership of RMCC, CDA, and RMC Saint-Jean

The Philippine and Canadian sides shared information on recent innovations in their respective training curriculum and policies. They also agreed to work towards intensifying their engagement through programs for cadet immersion/exchange, visiting professors/instructors, and curriculum development. 

Ambassador Austria (right) and VADM Valencia (left) discuss defense/security cooperation opportunities

Ambassador Maria Andrelita S. Austria also welcomed the delegation at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa. Ambassador Austria briefed the delegation on the developments in Canada’s renewed focus in the Indo-Pacific region, which opened up capacity building opportunities in the areas of defense, disaster response and management, and marine environmental protection. VADM Valencia noted that the delegation’s visit was made at an opportune time, as PMA is currently embarking on a campaign to align its performance and output metrics with international standards.

The visit of the PMA delegation further sustains the momentum of Philippines-Canada defense/security relations under the ambit of the 2024 Memorandum of Agreement on Defense Cooperation. END