PHILIPPINES SEEKS STRONGER ASEAN MARITIME INFORMATION SHARING THROUGH IORIS PLATFORM

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

MANILA, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The Philippines is pushing for greater maritime information-sharing among ASEAN members through the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform to strengthen regional maritime domain awareness and respond to evolving security threats.

The IORIS platform, supported under the European Union-funded CRIMARIO initiative, connects more than 50 countries across the Indo-Pacific and enables authorised maritime authorities to securely share operational information and coordinate responses.

Chief of the Information Operations Group at the National Maritime Centre of the Philippines, Captain Severino Destura, said closer collaboration among ASEAN agencies is essential to enhance coordination and build a more comprehensive regional security picture.

He noted that challenges such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, smuggling, maritime intrusions and piracy require cross-border responses supported by timely and effective information-sharing mechanisms.

“One of the goals of the National Maritime Centre is to work with international partners, especially around ASEAN,” he said during a recent session with participants of the Southeast Asia Maritime Media Visits Project (SEAMMVP) at the NM Centre headquarters.

The National Maritime Centre serves as the operational arm of the Philippines’ maritime security framework, consolidating and analysing multi-agency information to coordinate responses to maritime threats, including monitoring activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Destura said expanding participation in the IORIS platform among ASEAN members would further enhance regional collaboration.

“It would be an advantage if we can invite ASEAN partners to use this platform,” he said, stressing that broader participation could strengthen regional maritime coordination.

He added that deeper discussions are needed among partner states to determine the level and scope of information that can be shared, particularly between similar agencies such as maritime fusion centres.

Destura also highlighted technological and resource gaps affecting maritime domain awareness in the region.

He said that while the National Maritime Centre utilises various monitoring tools, including satellite-supported systems, much of the data processing remains manual due to limited indigenous systems and artificial intelligence capabilities.

“The prevailing trend is the use of space capabilities,” he said, suggesting that greater investment in satellite technologies and secure communications platforms would benefit not only the Philippines but also regional partners.

-- BERNAMA