This year's Doshin Bayanihan exercises between Japan and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be bigger than last year, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

"There will be a Doshin Bayanihan for this year, However they are still in the planning and preparation stages. I am not at liberty right now to disclose what those specifics are. However the preparations would be slightly bigger that last year's," Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian, PAF spokesman said in a press conference on Tuesday.

In October 7-11 2025, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130H transport aircraft, accompanied by 30 personnel, conducted the Japan-Philippines bilateral training “Doshin Bayanihan 5-25” at the PAF base in Mactan-Cebu International Airport. A total of 143 PAF personnel and 30 Japan Air Self Defense Force took part.

This training was the inaugural application of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which officially entered into force on September 11, 2025, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said.

Capinguian also mentioned that this year's exercises will be "a bit longer" than the previous drill.

"From what was initially planned, it would be a bit longer than last year's more, slightly bigger, more personnel involved," he said.

"From all communications it would be slightly bigger than last year's," he added.

Capinguian said this year's Doshin Bayanihan will focus more on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response exercises.

"The focus of the activities still heavily gear towards HADR, because Japan and Philippines share a lot in common and we learn a lot from them and the same way our foreign partners, believe it or not, learn a lot from us as well," he added. Robina Asido/PHS