PH-US ‘Balikatan’ 2016 to focus on humanitarian assistance

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 30): PH-US ‘Balikatan’ 2016 to focus on humanitarian assistance

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Humanitarian civic assistance and conduct of training will be the focus of this year’s joint Balikatan exercises of the Philippines and the United States of Amercia.

Spokesperson Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division disclosed that many communities in Panay island will be the target beneficiaries of the various humanitarian assistance activities of said event.

He said that the Balikatan 2016 which is set on April 4 to 16 will be centered on a variety of missions to include humanitarian assistance, maritime law enforcement and environmental protection.

The 3ID together with its counterpart from the U.S. Armed Forces will conduct Humanitarian Civic Assistance projects that include Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) and Cooperative Health Engagement activities barangay Jaena Norte in Jamindan town and San Nicolas, Tapaz town, both in the province of Capiz as well as in barangay Matangharon in Dingle, Iloilo.

The preliminary work on three different elementary school buildings in the three ENCAP sites started on March 29, while the military medical personnel of both countries in partnership with the local community-based health workers will conduct medical first aid training in the same areas in the coming days.

Tiongson said that the other Balikatan 2016 events within the area of 3ID include the training on basic first responders, disaster mental health, and hygiene and nutrition in the Jamindan town as well as conduct of Civil-Military Operations Exchange training at Camp Peralta, also in the municipality of Jamindan.

“The implementation of a joint rapid-reaction force in the vicinity of the province of Antique as part of the distributed operations, demonstrating the partnered capability in rapid response is set on April 11 to 14,” he said.

Primarily, the activity aims to enhance the techniques, tactics and procedures as a critical part of interoperability as well as readiness and cooperation of both countries, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement.

In last year’s Balikatan, the Don Joaquin Artuz availed of one duplex school building while the classrooms at San Nicolas National High School were repaired and repainted. Said schools are Tapaz town.

Tiongson said that the formal opening ceremony of this year’s “Balikatan” Exercise will be on April 4 at Camp Peralta, Jamindan town while the closing ceremony will take place at Matangharon Elementary School in Dingle, Iloilo on April 16.

The Task Force Commander for BK16 in Panay is Brig. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, the Assistant Division Commander of 3ID, he said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/991459314228/ph-us-balikatan-2016-to-focus-on-humanitarian-assistance