PHL-US army to build, repair Tapaz schools

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 13): PHL-US army to build, repair Tapaz schools

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 13 (PIA) – A school building in Tapaz town will be built in view of the Balikatan Exercises this year.

Public Affairs Office head Major Ray Tiongson disclosed that a two-classroom building will be constructed in view of the Philippine-United States Balikatan Exercise in Panay Island from March 15 to April 30 this year.

This, after a Memorandum of Agreement was recently signed between the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division  and the Don Joaquin Artuz Memorial School in Barangay Taft, Tapaz which signals the start of the construction, he said.

Tiongson said that Lt. Col. Victor Llapitan signed the said agreement in behalf of the battalion while Glenda Gevero, the school principal, signed the same document for the school. 

Aside from Don Joaquin Artuz Memorial School, a school in Barangay San Nicolas, Tapaz is also chosen as a beneficiary of the repair and repainting of their school buildings, he said.

He stressed that the personnel  from the 552nd Engineering Construction Battalion of the Philippine Army and the US Naval Construction Battalion will do the construction and repair activities.

“The Philippine-US 2015 is a partnership program between the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the United States Pacific Command,” Tiongson explained, pointing out that the said exercise will be in its 31st iteration in which one of its main activities is the humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercise.

He added that the exercise aims to provide humanitarian assistance and civic action programs to local communities affected by super typhoon Yolanda such as the construction and repair of school buildings.

He said that the Balikatan 2015 in Panay Island will also cover a series of month long activities in which training on disaster response and health seminars which aim to empower local communities in disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation will be conducted at the vicinity of the Tapaz town.

In his message during the MOA signing ceremony, 301st Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Eric Uchida pointed out the Philippine Army’s commitment in winning the peace in the communities as he encouraged stakeholders to actively support the peace and development efforts of the government.

The event was also graced by Tapaz mayor Rosemarie Gardose who thanked the Philippine Army for the implementation of the program, pledging the commitment of the local government and the community in supporting the program stressing the value of education as one of the best gifts that anyone can give to an individual.

For his part, 3ID Commander Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero emphasized the need to enhance disaster preparedness, response and recovery, calling on all stakeholders to support this endeavor in order to save lives during calamities.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/991426227703/phl-us-army-to-build-repair-tapaz-schools