MANILA --- With the scheduled opening of this year's "Balikatan" in April, Filipino, American and Australian forces have started their humanitarian and civic assistance activities in four Luzon provinces, an official said Friday.
In a statement, Lt. Cmdr. Liezl Vidallon, Exercise "Balikatan" 2019 public information officer, said troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States Armed Forces and the Australian Defense Force, all under the ambit of the US alliance, began their engineering civic action program in Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna, and Bataan on Tuesday.
The program seeks to construct a medical facility and classroom buildings at selected communities in the areas.
The beneficiaries of the classroom buildings are Don Eulogio Luistro Elementary School in Bulsa, San Juan, Batangas; Victor De Guia Elementary School in Balian, Pangil, Laguna; and Pag-Asa Elementary School in Orani, Bataan.
The village of San Pedro, Moncada in Tarlac will receive a one-story medical clinic.
Vidallon said several teams have also conducted medical missions in the areas.
Communities will benefit from free consultations, hygiene kits distribution, feeding program, and veterinary care.
The teams will also share information on family planning, health, environment protection, and disaster preparedness.
Exercise "Balikatan" 2019, the 35th iteration of the annual military drill, will officially open in a ceremony at the AFP’s headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on April 1.
Throughout Exercise "Balikatan: the AFP, US Armed Forces and ADF will carry out information exchanges and live training drills.
These are aimed at enhancing the militaries’ interoperability during the planning and execution of joint operations to advance security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (PNA)
