US marines build schoolhouse

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — An advance team of 20 US marines, assisted by 15 engineers from the Philippine Army, begins today the construction of a new schoolbuilding in remote Barangay Maruglo within the Crow Valley military exercise area in Capas, Tarlac as part of the forthcoming "Talon Vision" joint military exercises this November.

Since last month, US military officials have been meeting with their Filipino counterparts here to map out preparations for Talon Vision on Nov. 1-15.

Maj. Allan Ballesteros, of the 600th Air Force Wing here, said details of the forthcoming air and land-based exercises were not readily available.

An average of 100 to 200 US soldiers has taken part in similar exercises in the past.

Security remains tight at all entry and exit points at the Clark special economic zone, which is usual whenever US military personnel are here for joint military exercises.

Ballesteros said the new schoolbuilding is funded by the US military as part of Talon Vision’s civic component.

The US military has built several schoolbuildings in various areas in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog during past joint military exercises. — Ding Cervantes