MANILA, Philppines -- The U.S. military provided new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Philippine Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG) and Inshore Boat Battalion at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, on May 31.

The 525 sets of ballistic vests, lightweight ballistic plates, tactical ballistic helmets, and accessories provided through the Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program are valued at PhP 178 million ($3.4 million).

The equipment will provide increased protection for personnel conducting counterterrorism operations, as well as operations against transnational threats, specifically in the southern Philippines. The recent force protection equipment delivery will fill critical equipment gaps for Marine Operators within MARSOG, a key Counterterrorism and Special Operations unit within the Philippine Marine Corps.

The United States, as a longstanding ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through both grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to assist both long-term AFP modernization goals and urgent counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief requirements.