The first maneuvers, called Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, will take place in various training sites in the northern Philippines on August 14-21, the Philippine Navy said in a statement.

They would "enhance inter-operability between the two forces in combined naval operations, including skills directly applicable in combatting seaborne terrorist threats and transnational crimes at sea."

"Various units from the Philippine Fleet and the Philippine Marines" will join their US counterparts, the statement said without giving specific numbers or identifying vessels.

Philippine Marines spokesman Major Ariel Caculitan told reporters a second joint exercise will be held in October involving some 8,000 Filipino Marines, about 1,000 Filipino soldiers, and "not less than 2,000" members of the US forces.

The two-week exercise, to be held at a military base north of Manila and a Marine base near the mouth of Manila Bay, would likewise "enhance inter-operability" of Filipino armed services with those of an allied country, Caculitan added.