US Balikatan forces in medical, civic missions

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — US military troops, advised earlier about "high threat" in the Philippines, are confining themselves to venues of the Balikatan 03 joint military exercises during their free time, but ventured out yesterday for "medical and civic assistance" to people in Talisay, Batangas.

US Air Force Lt. Toni Jones, press officer of the joint US-RP Balikatan 03 forces said in a statement that "Filipinos residing in the vicinity of Tagaytay will have the opportunity to receive medical civic assistance from the Republic of the Philippines and the US civic military operators as part of Balikatan 2003."

Earlier, US Marine Capt. Burrel Parmer said that the US military allocated some $7 million for Balikatan 03, with about $2 million going to "contracting expenses" and about $165,000 for medical and civic assistance.

Tones said that the activity held yesterday at the Banga elementary school in Talisay would be followed by another medical and civic assistance today at the Wenceslao Trinidad High School in Laurel , also in Batangas, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Civic military operations are one pillar of the joint/combined training between the two nations during Balikatan 03 which runs through May 9," Tones said in her advisory, pointing out that about 3,700 US and Philippine military troops are now undergoing "command post exercise, cross training, and field training" here, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the marine base in Ternate in Cavite, and "in the vicinity of Tagaytay".

Tones also said that many activities during Balikatan 03 are open to the media. Yesterday, authorities from the joint exercises in Fort Magsaysay allowed media coverage of platoon-supported day attacks demonstration, squadron and platoon night attacks, patrol and ambush training, engineering demolition training, artillery live fire demonstration, and artillery gun and air assault demonstration.

Tones said that today, also at Fort Magsaysay, media are also invited to cover activities on company military operations in urban terrain attack and defend training, field skills practical application demonstration, artillery live fire demonstrations, and engineering battle drill training.

"The exercise gives the RP and US air, ground, and naval forces training to improve combined planning, combat readiness, and interoperability between the two nations," Tones also said.