THE 40 American soldiers in Negros Oriental jointly conducting exercises with the Philippine military are on a humanitarian mission, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.
“This undertaking is part of our continuing engagements with the US Armed Forces for the benefit and development of rural communities in the country,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista said on the fourth day of Operation Pacific Angel.
The week-long joint operation that began Monday, according to an AFP briefing document, is being conducted for the first time in Negros Oriental until March 9.
The AFP said the American soldiers and Filipino troops under the Philippine Army’s 302nd (Achiever) Brigade began the operation with repairs on three school buildings and two medical missions.
The AFP said the Americans, members of the US Pacific Air Force (USPacAF) under the US Pacific Command (USPaCom) headed by Lt. Col. Alvin Alana, will also help put up a water tower and paint classrooms.
The AFP said about 35,000 patients are expected to benefit from the daily medical missions composed of general healthcare, optometry, dental, physical therapy and circumcision.
“We are looking forward for this mission and see the smiling faces of the patient, especially the children we will help,” said Alana.
The AFP said aside from medical missions, the soldiers will also hold lectures on “preparedness among different forces during calamities and disasters.”
Last year, a magnitude 6.9-earthquake hit Negros Oriental leading to the death of 51 people, 112 injured and 62 missing, according to a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
“The total number of population affected in 180 barangays, nine municipalities, two cities, and two provinces in Central Visayas or Region VII [was pegged] at 63,899 families [and/or] 320,165 persons,” the NDRRMC report said.
Bautista said they expect Operation Pacific Angel to become an annual activity.
The USPaCom arrived on Sunday in the Philippines or six days before the lead ship of the US Seventh Fleet, the USS Blue Ridge, docked in Manila.
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