The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) hosted the Workshop on Strategic Simulation Exercises for military officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as well as training specialists and defense researchers of the College, on 28 September 2022 at the NDCP Honor Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Headed by the Philippine Center of Excellence in Defense, Development, and Security (PCEDS), the workshop sought to develop the capacity of the College and the AFP in coming up with strategic simulation drills. It is a step in fortifying the College’s ability to cater to hands-on and applied learning to assist the Department of National Defense (DND) in its objective to have extensive studies on diversified issues surrounding national security.

Mr. Rino Francisco, Development Management Officer III at the Philippine Coast Guard; Colonel Michael G Logico PA, MNSA, Director of the Joint and Combined Training Center; and independent consultant Mr. John Estiller served as facilitators during the activity. The areas that were covered include an introduction to simulation exercises, politico-military simulations, and simulation exercise design.

Capping off the event, Lieutenant General Ferdinand M. Cartujano PAF(Ret), President of the NDCP, underscored the importance of the workshop in demonstrating the College’s commitment to contributing to the DND’s goal of having a “proactive and effective Defense Department that is part of the policy options available to the President in implementing foreign and domestic security priorities in combination with other instruments of national power of the government.”

“Who knows, the defense department may even want to convene a department-wide simulation that integrates the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of decision-making. If that happens, the College will be very much willing to facilitate the strategic part while working with other AFP units and offices in fielding wargaming exercises,” LtGen Cartujano said.