US-RP Navy teams build classroom in Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines - The Naval Construction Brigade of the Philippine is working with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 of the United States Navy in building a single-room schoolhouse and reconstructing a facility of the Looc National High School in Lapu-Lapu City.

The endeavor is part of the Philippine Navy’s Engineering Civil Action Project and part of this year’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise, an annual bilateral exercise between the Philippine Navy and the US Navy.

Looc National High School, located inside the Naval Operating Base Mactan in barangay Looc in Lapu-Lapu City, is an adopted school of the Naval Forces Central.

NAVFORCEN said LNHS is in desperate need of a new school house to accommodate its increasing student population.

NAVFORCEN public affairs officer Judyline B. Cañoneo said the existing facility in the school is insufficient to cater to the more than 500 high school students and 12 teachers.

Aside from constructing a room, the navy officers and volunteers will also repair the roofing of the existing stage.

Filipino Seabees homeported in Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City and the American Seabees homeported from US Navy Base in Okinawa, Japan will both bring their construction tools and building materials in Cebu.

“This year’s CARAT exercise indeed presents a wide-variety of opportunities for all the participants of the ENCAP – to work, to train and to learn together,” Cañoneo said.

“CARAT is designed to enhance regional cooperation, promote understanding between participating military forces and continue develop operational readiness of participating forces,” Cañoneo added.

About 50 Seabees will take part in the 25-day construction of the 56-square-meter concrete classroom that started last May 2.

Prior to the actual construction, the Seabees and volunteers prepared the site by clearing it of large debris, heavy vegetation, and excavated topsoil that were hauled away to a nearby landfill. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)