The Philippine and Unites States navies are set to hold a weeklong combined bilateral naval exercise starting on Tuesday in northern Philippines, reported the Philippine News Agency on Monday.

The training sites of the joint exercise, code-named " Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise 2006", will be in Zambales and La Union provinces.

The Philippine Navy will see action with their U.S. counterparts during the exercise, which will be joined by a number of U.S. navy ships and some ships of the Philippine navy and coast guard.

The series of drills and simulation activities are expected to strengthen the Philippine navy's capability to contribute to the internal security and counter-terrorism operations, said the report.

Medical and dental teams of the two navies will also hold outreach activities to residents in selected localities in Zambales and La Union.

The U.S. and Philippine military hold several dozens of joint exercises every year under a bilateral defense cooperation accord, a visiting force accord and a security engagement agreement.

Source: Xinhua