00:00The Department of National Defense or DND reported the high-ranking defense officials
00:05from the country and the U.S. discussed the upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
00:11or AFP and the potential conclusion of the General Security of Military Information Agreement
00:17by the end of the year. According to Philippine News Agency report, this came following the
00:23first-ever visit by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense, South and Southeast Asia,
00:30Laura Apdigrove, along with other ranking officials from the Defense Department on October 17.
00:37Meanwhile, DND Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andulong said that U.S. Deputy Assistant
00:44Secretary of Defense's first visit to the country served as her introduction to DND officials
00:52and allowed discussions on the progress of the Philippines-U.S. Defense Alliance,
00:57along with the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea.
