US ship to arrive in Bicol next week

A US Navy ship will visit the Bicol region next week to conduct humanitarian projects for victims of natural disasters that hit the area late last year.

The US Embassy in Manila said the US Marines and Sailors, based in Okinawa, Japan, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will join their colleagues from the San Diego-based USS Comstock to deliver nearly 10,000 pounds of donated goods such as clothes, toys, food and medical supplies.

The visiting US ship will also provide free health clinics for citizens who are still homeless and conduct engineering projects to repair, improve, and clean schools and evacuation centers.

US and Filipino servicemen will repair an elementary school built in 1973 by the US and Philippine militaries during the annual Balikatan exercises that were damaged by super typhoon "Reming."

This humanitarian visit is part of Operation Goodwill, which was created in 2003 by US Marines and Sailors and their families in Okinawa to show appreciation to the Filipino people for welcoming them during the annual bilateral exercises. 

The US Marines have returned each year since then with donations of toys and supplies from their families for Filipino children and communities over the holiday season.

In December 2006 and January 2007, US Marines and Sailors from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade visited the Philippines as part of their ongoing Operation Goodwill program to distribute goods.