19 December 2016 – The Philippines emphasized its various national, bilateral, regional and multilateral efforts in implementing the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) at the opening session of the Fifth Review Conference of CCW on December 12 at the Palais des Nations.The Philippines was represented by Col. Abe G. Arenga from the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Munitions Control Center (AFP-MCC).

In the Philippine statement, Col. Arenga cited that "these initiatives include an outreach held early this year with the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action in Mindanao focusing on Landmines, Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), and a capacity-building workshop in November 2016 with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) based on the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects."

As one of the three States Parties to CCW in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines actively participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), and the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) where topics on how to address proliferation of small arms and light weapons, arms smuggling and terrorism, among others, are discussed.

Also highlighted is the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) in 2012 with a goal to provide ASEAN countries with a framework to engage in the humanitarian aspects of Unexploded Ordnance and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) through experiences sharing, skills training and other capacity building activities.

Col. Arenga further added that "the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP), has established a Joint Task Force Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (JTFCIED) mandated to monitor and record events concerning the use of Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs) by non-state actors and other groups involved in acts of terrorism.  The JTFCIED also provides an assessment necessary in analyzing how to counter terrorism and mitigate the proliferation of unexploded ordnance, which is the basic component of an IED, and provide regular reports relative to their mandate." 

CCW, also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention, aims to prohibit certain types of weapons that cause unjustifiable suffering to combatants or indiscriminately affect civilians. The CCW Review Conference is held every five years. The Philippines signed the Convention on 15 May 1981 and ratified in various dates from 1996 to 1997 CCW Protocol I (Non-Detectable Fragments), Protocol II (Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices), Amended Protocol II, Protocol III (Incendiary Weapons), and Protocol IV (Blinding Laser Weapons). 

The Philippines is active in meetings of the CCW given its concern over IEDs, which are covered by the treaty and these weapons cause untold harm and suffering on civilians and military personnel alike. The next Review Conference of the CCW is set for 2021. END