Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John Aquilino and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Andres Centino signed the Maritime Security (Bantay Dagat) Framework May 23, 2022 at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp Smith, Hawaii. “Bantay Dagat” is a Tagalog term that means “Guardian of the Sea”, illustrating U.S. and Philippine resolve to improve regional maritime domain awareness and confront maritime challenges together. The framework is designed to enable a holistic, intergovernmental approach to maritime security through the interoperability of U.S. and Philippine maritime forces and option to include interagency organizations, and is a testament to the strength of the U.S. – Philippines alliance.