CG Commodore Rudyard Somera CESE, Director of the Coast Guard Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center, represented the Philippine Coast Guard at the two-day 4TH ASIAN DEFENSE AND SECURITY, CRISIS & DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM (ADAS 2022) held on 28-29 April 2022 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

As the Philippines, and the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, undertake capability build-ups to address various defense and security issues, the  exhibit and conference present the latest technologies, a defense and security networking platform for the defense establishments, as well as a forum for defense and security issues. 

As one of the Symposium speakers, CG COMMO SOMERA presented PCG’s particular approach to capability development in its Strategy Driven Modernization. 

What is significant is that the PCG’s modernization is now being anchored to its newly published Maritime Strategy in the same manner that the AFP anchors similar efforts to the National Military Strategy. The presentation highlighted that like any national endeavor, Philippine security and defense transformation is a national endeavor or in the popular parlance, a whole of nation approach.

Other presenters and panel discussants of the two-day Symposium were high-ranking Officials of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, Philippine Space Agency, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine International Trading Corporation and Department of National Defense.