AFP to Participate in Pacific Unity 12-6

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City – In time of the aftermath brought by the torrential rains of the Southwest Monson or “Habagat”, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) together with the United States Pacific Air Force (PACAF) will conduct a joint and combined Humanitarian Civil Assistance (HCA) and Civil Military Operations (CMO) in the province of Pampanga and Tarlac from August 20 to September 20, to enhance the response capability of both armed forces during times of disasters and calamities.

This joint undertaking is in line with the Pacific Unity 12-6, a U.S. Pacific Command-funded humanitarian assistance mission. It is a bilateral and joint engineering civic action program conducted in cooperation with the provincial government of Pampanga and Tarlac.

The AFP through the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) will provide personnel and mission-essential equipment in the conduct of the HCA/CMO. Joining the month-long activity are the Philippine National Police, Local Government Units, Local Government Agencies, and Non-Government Organizations.

The PU 12-6 intends to conduct Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) and Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) in an exercise scenario to perform joint and combined response in a mass casualty situation. It will formally start through a Ground Breaking/Opening Ceremony at Cacutud Elementary School wherein a school building will be constructed and rehabilitation and repair of classrooms will be conducted.

Military doctors and dentists from the AFP Reserve Command together with the participating agencies and partner stakeholders will also conduct Cooperative Health Engagement (CHE) which includes MEDCAP and Dental Civic Action Program (DENCAP) in Villa Bacolor, Tarlac City on September 15. Subject Mater Expertise Exchange (SMEEs) on Master Base Planning, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) and Table Top Exercise on HA/DR will also be held at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga and Clark Air Base, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Just recently, the AFP took part in the Pacific Partnership 2012, the largest annual humanitarian and civic assistance mission in the Pacific sponsored by the US Pacific Fleet. Over 20,000 residents of Samar benefitted from a series of MEDCAP, DENCAP, and ENCAP last June.

By the end of the PP12, four new classrooms were completed and built in Brgy. Palanit, San Isidro, Northern Samar and Brgy. Tambongan Elementary School Gandara, Samar. Military engineers also renovated and repaired Health Centers, an existing structure, and school play grounds around Samar.

Last April, the AFP hosted the 28th Philippines-United States Balikatan which focus on HA/DR. The activity sought to identify gaps and solutions from previous disaster situations that were addressed through discussions with representatives from foreign disaster response systems.

“The Pacific Unity 12-6 comes very timely as we continue to undertake significant efforts to strengthen our humanitarian, disaster response, and civic action programs in times of distraught like the recent calamity caused by ‘Habagat.’ This is another opportunity for us to enhance our capabilities in ensuring a safe and secure environment for our people,” AFP Chief of Staff, General Jessie D. Dellosa said.

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PAO - AFP | August 11, 2012 | Article Link

US Seabees Begin Partnership Projects

MANILA, Philippines --- Members of the US Navy Seabees and Armed Forces of the Philippines have started the construction of schools and medical facilities in Samar as part of advance work for the launch of the Philippine leg of the Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12).

PP12 is the largest annual humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted by the US Pacific Fleet to strengthen international relationships and partners and host nations in Asia and the Pacific.

It is also aimed at enhancing interoperability of regional forces in their ability to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said work began on three of four Engineering Civic Assistance Projects (ENCAP) of the PP12 last May 24 with the arrival of US Navy Seabees and other partners.

The schools and medical facilities to be constructed as part of the PP2 will benefit 20,000 residents of Samar, Burgos said.

The Philippine leg of the PP2 is scheduled to officially kick off on June 18.  It will run until July 1.

Partner nations of PP12 include Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Chile, Peru, and Netherlands.

Foreign non-government organizations (NGO) like the Project Hope, Oceanit, World Vets, and Vietnam Medical Assistance Program will also join local NGOs in the implementation of engineering civic action programs (ENCAP), medical civic action programs (MEDCAP), dental civic action programs (DENCAP),  veterinary civic action programs (VETCAP), and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) lectures and seminars to Philippines (Samar), Indonesia (North Sulawesi), Vietnam (Vinh), and Cambodia (Sihanoukville).

Burgos said engineers from the AFP, United States Navy, and other partner nations and non-government organizations in the PP12 are already executing the three ENCAP sites in Palanit, Bugtong, and Tambongan ahead of schedule. These are aimed at contributing to the economic and social development of the selected communities.

The ENCAPs will include the construction of a two-classroom school building in Palanit, San Isidro, Northern Samar; renovation of a health center in Bugtong, Tinambacan District, Western Samar; renovation of San Jorge Elementary School in San Jorge Samar; and reconstruction of Tambongan Elementary School in Gandara District, Western Samar.

The Palanit Elementary School has not received any improvement projects in the last six years despite serving primary education to the 3,029 residents of the barangay and adjacent villages. The project will involve the construction of a seven-meter by 16-meter, two-classroom school building that will also serve as a facility for major village functions.

The ENCAPs will also include the major reconstruction of a school building in San Jorge Elementary School that was badly damaged by typhoon in 2011. The project will help the municipality of San Jorge improve the education environment of the school that currently only has 13 classrooms with more than 1,000 students enrolled yearly.

Also, Barangay Tambongan Elementary School has 177 students using only four classrooms and one temporary school building made from bamboo and nipa. The engineering project in the school will construct another seven-meter by 16-meter, two-classroom school building to improve the school’s facility for education.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Bugtong health center serves the 2,069 residents of the village with medical services. The ENCAP will renovate the existing government building by replacing the entire roof structure, repairing walls, constructing a new toilet facility, and installing electrical outlets.

The cities and towns that will benefit include the Catbalogan City and Calbayog City and the towns of Silanga, Gandara, Carayman, Veriato, Malaga, and San Isidro.

AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D. Dellosa commended the “AFP engineers who committed themselves and joined foreign partners in constructing a brighter future for the youth and improving the quality of life of thousands of residents in Samar.”

“Each time a window of opportunity opens to serve, our soldiers, particularly our engineers, are always a step ahead in making sure that the Filipino people are given the facilities for growth and a better quality of life. For this, we express our gratitude to the partner nations in the Pacific Partnership 2012 for another year of humanitarian, disaster response, community relations, and civic action programs,” said Dellosa.

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Elena Aben | Manila Bulletin | May 28, 2012 | Article Link

Philippine community, U.S. Marines work shoulder-to-shoulder to break ground at local school

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, Philippines - Barangay Santa Cruz community members with service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Marines with U.S. Army Civil Affairs attended a groundbreaking ceremony here March 19.

The groundbreaking ceremony is an engineering civic assistance project (ENCAP), part of the humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) events of Balikatan 2012 (BK12), which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog. The exercise is an annual, combined exercise between the AFP and U.S. forces to enhance interoperability and foster the ability for the two forces to jointly respond quickly and effectively.

The relationship to build the school started almost a year ago, when the U.S. Marines came to Palawan, an island located southwest of mainland Philippines, to start the planning process. Philippine and U.S. planners visited various locations in coordination with local officials to nominate sites to receive an HCA school construction project.

"Santa Cruz elementary school was one of five sites throughout Palawan that received final selection for an HCA construction project. During the nomination process, numerous factors were taken into account, including logistics requirements, a demonstrated need for civic assistance, unit capabilities and training requirements," said U.S. Marine Capt. Amelia Griffith, team leader, Marine Civil Affairs Team, Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force (CJCMOTF).

The Santa Cruz Elementary School is located in Santa Cruz, an agrarian baranga located north of Puerto Princesa. The barangay has more than 1,000 people and the existing school cannot house all the children.

"(BK12 members) answered the need for more building[s] for the students, and they expect more students to come in," said Santa Cruz Barangay captain Catalina Maming, through an interpreter.

In addition to the AFP and U.S. Marines building the school, civil affairs plays a valuable role in BK12. They interact with the local populace and advise the military leadership on the needs of the community and its people.

"CA is utilized to leverage each relationship between the command and every individual, group and organization in the local community to achieve the desired effect," said Griffith.

Attending the groundbreaking, were the children, faculty of the Santa Cruz elementary school, the local community leaders, as well as the leaders of BK12's CJCMOTF, AFP Navy Capt. Rosauro Sarmiento, and deputy commander, U.S. Army Col. Philip W. Young. The two leaders are responsible for the HCA portion of BK12 on Palawan, which includes five ENCAPs, school building projects and six medical civic assistance projects (MEDCAP).

"This school belongs to very (underprivileged) people with many students in one room," said Faly Romueldeo, member, board of directors, Santa Cruz Elementary School. "It's very encouraging now for [the children] to attend classes now because of this new building."

The school building will include a water catchment system that allows the occupants to utilize the frequent rainfall of the barangay for purposes like flushing water in toilets. The AFP and U.S. Marine engineers will also install a new septic system to handle the growing needs of the school, said U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Justin King, detachment officer in charge, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

"This project will be 50 percent [AFP] Seabees and 50 percent [U.S.] Marines," said King.

Community and CJCMOTF leaders tossed coins and stones into the foundation, as part of the traditional Palawan groundbreaking ceremony called Pundasyon. The stones represent the foundation of the building, and the coins represent a wish for good luck.

Projected completion for all ENCAP sites are scheduled from April 23 to 27.

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1st Lt. Ray Ragan | 351st Civil Affairs Command | dvidshub.net  | Article Link