Philippine Army engineers assigned to the Post Engineer Detachment at Fort Magsaysay and U.S. Army engineers assigned to the 797th Engineer Company, reconstruct a broken perimeter wall at Calikid Norte Elementary School, Calikid Norte, Cabanatuan City, Philippines, April 21, 2015, during exercise Balikatan. Bilateral training exercises, such as Balikatan, improve the readiness of both armed forces and helps maintain a high level of readiness and enhances military-to-military relations. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Marty Borton)
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines - The U.S. Army's 797th Engineer Company, 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, and the Philippine army's 7th Civil Military Operations Genuine Well rounded Advocates of Peace and Order (GWAPO) Battalion, Post Engineer Detachment, and members of the local Philippine populace joined together to complete community work projects during Exercise Balikatan at the Calikid Norte Elementary School in Calikid Norte, Cabanatuan City, Philippines, during the past week.
The joint community relations project focused on addressing areas of greatest concern to the school administration to include repairing a wall, establishing running water in classrooms, and rewiring dangerous low hanging electrical wires.
"They are helping the school bring running water into three classrooms, replacing a low hanging electrical wire, and rebuilding part of the perimeter wall that's in disrepair," said U.S. Army Capt. Dane Sawyer, a civil affairs team leader with the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion.
"It's a good project to help the students at the school,” said Philippine army 2nd Lt. Gebely Castigador, a community relations officer in charge of the project, 7th CMO, GWAPO Battalion. "They could use the water facilities and will help build the school more beautiful."
Gaudelia Delbaltista, a first grade teacher at the school, says she and her students are very happy about the projects because they are improving the school. The faculty was also concerned with the electrical wiring that provides power to the classrooms.
"I was scared they might get electrocuted," Delbaltista said.
Philippine army electricians ran new electrical wiring that is now safely out of the reach of the students who attend the school. Local welders assisted with the project by constructing new wire hanging points that raised the elevation of the wiring.
The welders also provided assistance to the wall project by building rebar pillars that were later filled with concrete. Local masonry experts joined the project as well by rebuilding of a broken section of the school's perimeter wall.
"It improves the security of the building so people can't get in here and steal stuff," said Delbaltista. "It also makes the students feel more secure."
The faculty thanked all of the volunteers who assisted in improving the school.
"The school feels very good and the job done by the U.S. and Philippine army is excellent,” said Delbaltista. “They have really good cooperation and understanding during these projects, and they have really good teamwork."
The project was possible due to cooperation between the community and the Philippine and U.S. Army.
"The beautiful thing about this project is that it's completely joint," said Sawyer. "AFP funds, funds from the local school and U.S. labor and expertise made it possible to help the safety and future of the kids here."
"I appreciate the presence of my U.S. counterparts, and I believe the people here are thankful for all the support given to us," said Castigador.
This is the second year participants of Balikatan have helped improve Calikid Norte Elementary School. Last year the U.S. and Philippine armies repainted walls and built a water shed to provide water to the students.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/161474/us-and-philippine-army-soldiers-work-together-improve-school#.VUBfXJVgPIU
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