Balikatan off to good start in Sulu

This year’s Philippine-US Balikatan military exercise in Sulu was off to a good start as local residents warmly welcomed the American servicemen.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney even visited US troops and medical personnel, who were conducting medical and dental missions in villages in Siasi and Looc towns the other day.

“The US ambassador was very pleased to see both US and Filipino soldiers working hand in hand at the rural health headquarters in Barangay Tambobato in Looc,” said Brig. Gen. Cesar Atienza, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade.

Unlike in Lanao where residents staged rallies and set up roadblocks to deny entry to the US soldiers, there was no opposition from the Sulu folk, Atienza said.

Aside from medical and dental missions, US and Filipino troops are now building a three-room high school building in Barangay Pang, Kalingalan Kaluang town.

The US government bank­rolled the construction of the classroom, which will serve as an annex building of the Kalingalan Kaluang High School.

Atienza said Filipino and US doctors joined hands for a medical-dental mission in Barangay Pang which benefited 1,250 residents.

“We will be conducting another medical and dental mission in Looc today,” Atienza said.

In Kampo Islam, Siasi town, 2,585 residents suffering from various ailments also received medical attention from Filipino and US military doctors and dentists.

The Balikatan exercise officially kicked off in Sulu last Monday, although activities started on Feb. 15.