24th RP-US Balikatan exercises formally opened

By Ronron
February 18, 2008

The 24th Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and United States military formally opened Monday in simple ceremonies at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The opening ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.

Esperon said the exercise, which is authorized by the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, will end on March 3.

He said most of the activities will be humanitarian assistance projects that will be held in Central and Western Mindanao, in Sulu and in Palawan, while the staff and field exercises will be held in Luzon and Palawan.

Kenney said there will be approximately 23 humanitarian assistance projects like free medical, dental and veterinary care, and construction and repair of schools and other infrastructure projects. About 600 US troops will participate in these activities.

Esperon had earlier said that the venues in Mindanao include Marawi City in Lanao ddel Sur, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Midsayap in North Cotabato, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi.

Kenney assured that there will be no field and staff exercises in Mindanao.

All staff and field exercises will be held specifically in Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac; in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; at Subic Bay in Zambales; at Basa Airbase in Pampanga; at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City; at Clark Airfield in Pampanga; at the Marine Base in Ternate, Cavite; and in Palawan, said Balikatan spokesman Maj. Ramon Zagala
III.

Zagala said the focus of the field trainings and exercises is on providing "relief and assistance together in the event of natural disasters and other crisis that endangers public health and safety," and in improving "contingency planning and strengthening maritime security."

"These humanitarian assistance and training activities enable our soldiers to get to know each other, train together, and provide assistance in communities where the need is greatest," Kenney said.

"True to the meaning of the word BALIKATAN, Americans and Filipinos are shouldering the load together to help the greatest possible number of people in need," she added.

Zagala said some 6,000 American troops coming from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Unit and some 2,000 Filipino soldiers from various service commands will take part in the activity./DMS