ORMOC CITY, April 20 (PNA) –- It’s all system go
for the conduct of “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercise between
the Philippines and the United States in this city and in Guiuan, Eastern Samar
with the arrival of foreign troops.
Lt. Col. Miguel Ceballos, chief of the Philippine
Army’s 8th Infantry Division civil military operations confirmed that US
soldiers would continue to arrive to this city this week for the formal opening
of Balikatan 2017 on May 2 in Ormoc and May 8 in Guiuan.
“This year’s Balikatan has no actual military
exercises. They are here purely for humanitarian works,” Ceballos said on
Thursday.
US troops and Filipino soldiers of the Army’s
546thEngineering Construction Battalion will rehabilitate school buildings and
health centers in two areas badly hit by super typhoon "Yolanda" in
2013.
Soldiers will also participate in medical missions
and first aid training in the month-long “Balikatan” exercise.
Ceballos said that US troops would stay inside army
camps after daily activities as part of security protocol.
“Balikatan” 2017 in Ormoc City is the first in
Eastern Visayas region.(PNA)
ROEL T. AMAZONA
ROEL T. AMAZONA
No comments:
Post a Comment