The Philippine Department of ForeignAffairs announced Friday that Filipino and US troops are set to launch another round of anti-terror training this month.

Foreign Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes said that about 170 Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel and 70 US Marines will take part in the Talon Vision 05 exercise on Nov. 14-20 at the former Clark air base in Pampanga province.

Paredes said that the exercise is aimed at enhancing bilateral training and boost the PAF's capabilities through combined air andground operation exercises.

The executive director of the Visiting Forces Agreement Committee said that the Americans would also train the Filipinos in military decision-making to further develop the leadership and strategy formulation of military commanders.

On the prospect of Philippine-US military cooperation after US President George W. Bush's reelection, Paredes said that a stronger resolve by the United States and the Philippines in combating terrorism is eyed in the future.

In August, the Filipino Navy and its American counterpart launched a six-month special warfare exercise in the southern Philippines aimed at strengthening the capability of the Filipino troops to combat terrorism.

The exercise, dubbed as PALAH 05-1, is a "mutual counter-terrorism exercise between the two countries in support of government's efforts against terrorist organizations."

US Ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone said Thursday that the United States will continue supporting the peaceefforts of the Philippine government.

"We have nowhere to go but even further up," he said at a pressbriefing after US President Bush was re-elected.

Ricciardone said that Bush's re-election assured continued cooperation between the two countries on global issues and other concerns.

On the other hand, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also confident that Philippines-US relations will continue to mature, flourish and strengthen.

Source: Xinhua