Sarangani to host Phl-US naval exercise

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The coastal town of Glan in Sarangani province will host the next joint Philippine-United States joint naval exercise from June 28 to July 9.

The joint naval exercise is dubbed as “Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise 2012.”

Navy Lt. Joseph Armand Sieras, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) operations officer, said their activities include a medical civic action program, dental civic action program, engineering civic action program and community relations in selected barangays in Glan.

“Through these programs we hope to improve the quality of life and the general health and welfare of local residents, including government employees and enable both navies to build a more personal relationship with them,” Sieras said.

A joint survey team, led by US Navy Captain Wally Lovely, visited several possible sites for the activities, Glan Central Elementary School and Glan School of Arts and Trades, among them. The team then met with Sarangani Gov. Miguel  Dominguez and Glan Mayor Victor Yap for the acceptance rites recently held aboard the RPS Miguel Malvar at the Glan wharf.

Yap thanked the NFEM for choosing Glan as this year’s venue for CARAT, saying the event would help highlight the town’s growing importance, both from economic and strategic standpoints.

“People following up the developments on television will be able to see our beautiful white sand beaches, our rich vegetation, and the hospitality and gaiety of our people. That would be a big boost to our own tourism development efforts,” he said.

Dubbed “Coconut Queen of the South”, this colonial town is home to the now famous Gumasa beach.