5,500 US military personnel coming for Balikatan 2006

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Some 5,500 US military personnel are arriving in the country to attend this year’s US-RP Balikatan joint military exercises to be held in various parts of the country, including this former US air force base, starting Feb. 20.

US military spokesperson Marine Capt. Burrel Parmer said the US and Philippine forces are already in their "final week of preparations" for the exercises which will last until March 5.

"Exercise Balikatan 2006 will be conducted in three phases: humanitarian and civic assistance on the island of Jolo in Sulu, a combined task force staff exercise in Cebu and cross training and field training exercises in Luzon," Parmer said.

In Jolo alone, the US military has allocated $245,000 for the construction of school buildings and the conduct of medical, dental and other civic missions as part of Balikatan.

Some 5,500 US personnel and about 2,800 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines will participate in the exercises in various parts of the country, he said.

"A contingent of approximately 400 participants will be in Jolo for 11 engineering and medical civic action projects. They will work with the AFP and local volunteers to construct new school buildings and provide medical, dental and other services to the island’s residents under the ongoing Project Bayanihan initiative," he said.

The joint military exercise is one of the 37 joint US-RP military exercises planned for this year.

"These exercises are planned under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Board and Visiting Forces Agreement and agreed upon by both governments. Such exercises provide valuable opportunities for training, humanitarian assistance projects, information-sharing and other activities that benefit both the Philippines and the US," Parmer said.