New RP-US exercises on today

Regular and low key.

This was how Brig. Gen. Eduardo Purificacion, Armed Forces spokesman, described the new round of Philippine-US exercises dubbed "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)" which kick off today in Subic.

Purificacion said the CARAT exercises have been held annually since 1994 under the Mutual Defense Treaty, unlike the Balikatan war games which are covered by the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

"(CARAT involves) more humanitarian projects like civic action and training. There is no military component like Balikatan where high-technology weapons are used," he said.

Lt. Leslie Hull-Ryde, US spokeswoman for CARAT, however, said there will be "sustainment training" on small firearms.

She said such a training will allow both the Filipino and US participants to "keep (their) critical skills high."

Except for the "familiarization firing," Purificacion said there will be no military component.

"CARAT aims to build bilateral friendship and enhance military-to-military relationship by giving its participants the opportunity to work together in planning sessions, in the field, at sea and in civic action projects," he added.

The 11-day CARAT exercises will be held in Subic Bay, the Marine Base in Ternate, Cavite; the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales; and Fort San Felipe at Sangley Point in Cavite City.

The US contingent is composed of 1,400 soldiers, sailors, marines and Coast Guard men. Participating US ships include the USS Vincennes, USS Anchorage, USS George Philip, USCGC Morgenthau and USS Salvor.

The Filipino contingent, on the other hand, is composed of 880 Navy personnel, 447 Marines and 69 members of the Coast Guard. Three Philippine ships — BRP Teotimo Figuracion, BRP Jose Andrada and BRP Humabon — are taking part in the exercises.

Philippine Navy Capt. Quirico Evangelista was designated exercise director of CARAT 2002.

Evangelista said communities and schools outside the CARAT sites are targeted as beneficiaries of the humanitarian projects.