 Di Balikatan 2023 is the 38th and largest-ever iteration of this exercise with roughly about 17,700 troops from the AFP, U.S. Forces, and Australian Defence Forces. It builds interoperability, enhances capabilities, and demonstrate mutual defence of the Philippines' sub-rain territory, and promote peace and security in the region. The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint literal live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics, techniques, and procedures to execute a maritime strike. Moreover, these events are anchored to the theme maritime and coastal defence, with exercise objectives to enhance the AP capabilities for external defence operations and maritime security awareness in congruence with the Mutual Defence Board and Security Engagement Board lines of efforts. To define command and control functions and strengthen interagency collaboration to test the employment concept of newly acquired capabilities under the AP modernisation programme to project a credible defence posture and enhance AP capabilities for cyber defence operations. To include AP communications, electronics, information systems, infrastructure, and processes. The annual conduct of Balikatan is always a learning opportunity for both the Philippines and the United States military forces, emphasizing on skills, enhancement, doctrine exchange that would certainly contribute to the combat readiness and combat capability of the armed forces of the Philippines. In behalf of the Philippines' exercise directorate, I look forward on having a productive and progressive Balikatan execution for all of us. With this, I recommend for the Philippines' United States exercise Balikatan 38-2023 to be open. Magandang umaga at mabuhay, tayong lahat. Thank you, sir.