US Air Force members arrive in Negros for joint training

ABOUT 40 members of the US Pacific Air Force under the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) headed by Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Alana arrived in Negros Oriental on Saturday in separate local flights from Metro Manila and through the Philippine Airforce's C130.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the 3rd ID, said the USPACOM will be here in the region from March 3-11 2013 to conduct a joint and combined Humanitarian Civic Assistance/Civil-Military Operations (HCA/CMO) between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the 302nd Bde, and PNP through the Negros Oriental Provincial Police.

He said the joint activity dubbed as the Pacific Angels 13-1 is an annual Humanitarian Assistance (HA) program sponsored by the USPACOM and implemented by the US Pacific Air Force (PACAF) in partnership with the AFP.

The objective of this exercise is to enhance the response capability of the AFP and stakeholders during disasters and calamities.

The seven days activity covers HCA/CMO programs such as medical, dental, optometry and school repair and other engineering programs and also lectures on various subject matter expert changes between the AFP-PNP and USPACOM forces that aim to enhance interoperability and preparedness among different forces during calamities and disasters.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander, Col Francisco Patrimonio, said that the unit will support this humanitarian mission primarily in providing security to the contingents, facilitate the transportation of people affected by the previous earthquake to and from their location and assist in the construction and repair of selected school beneficiaries here in the region.

Aside from the USPACOM, AFP and PNP, Pacific Angels 13-1 will be participated by the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and Non-Government Organizations led by the Oriental Negros Children's Advocacy Network (ONCAN) MGen Jose Z Mabanta Jr, Commander of 3ID, stressed that Negros has suffered from previous calamities and disasters.

"Our ability to mitigate, prepare, respond and recover from the effects brought about by these calamities is necessary to be enhanced. This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to learn and enhance our interoperability during disasters and calamities," he said.

"Bayanihan" - United States Airforce of the US Pacific Command, members of the 302nd Infantry Brigade and Negros PNP unloaded medical, dental and engineering equipment at Dumaguete City Airport.

These equipment will be used for the Pacific Angels from March 3-10, 2013.

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Teresa Ellera | Sun Star Bacolod | March 4, 2013 | Article Link

PDI read-along takes center stage in PH-US humanitarian mission in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—More than 3,000 children trooped to a series of reading activities on the first three days of the six-day PH-US Pacific Angel humanitarian mission in Albay province, an official of the Philippine Navy said Thursday.

Lieutenant Darwin Nieva, spokesman of the Joint Task Force Bayanihan, said the prototype for their “Kiddie Corner and Feeding” program was the read-along of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which was a partner during the anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy last year.

Nieva said the children’s corners in four designated sites were packed with kids who sat through six reading sessions held each day per site.

The sites, he said, included central Bayanihan in Barangay (village) Tagas and the Binitayan Elementary School, both in Daraga town, and the two mobile sites in the towns of Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.

Initiated by volunteers from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Daraga chapter and the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation, the program catered to children whose elders had waited in line for the medical and dental services at the sites.

Young professionals, businessmen, US doctors and Air Force personnel served as the storytellers who interacted with the children in the reading event while the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation took charge of the feeding program.

Lt. Colonel Augusto Gaite of the Philippine Air Force, a key player in the mission, said at the start of the mission on Monday that at least 99 US soldiers had put up a tent hospital in this city with over 700 residents of Albay availing themselves of the free medical and dental services.

More than 10,000 residents of Albay were expected to benefit from the mission, said Lt. Col. Michael Black  of the US Air Force and head of Pacific Angel.

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By Mar S. Arguelles | Inquirer Southern Luzon | March 8th, 2012 | Article Link

GI mission in Albay targets 10,000 people

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 10,000 of the poorest of the poor in Albay were expected to avail themselves of free medical services courtesy of American soldiers in a mission viewed with suspicion by the militant left.

The humanitarian mission, put together by the US and Philippine military, started giving free medical and dental services to at least 700 residents of Albay on Monday.

Dubbed “Pacific Angel,” the mission is being carried out by 381 American and Filipino enlisted men, said Lt. Col. Augusto Gaite, of the Philippine Air Force and key player in the mission.

Lt. Col. Michael Black, of the US Air Force and head of Pacific Angel, said more than 10,000 residents of Albay were expected to benefit from the mission.

At the start of the mission on Sunday, at least 99 US soldiers put up a tent hospital in this city. Tents, equipment and supply were brought in aboard two US military cargo planes.

US soldiers also provided free medical, dental and optometry services to residents in the towns of Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.

Other US soldiers repaired classrooms in this city and in the town of Daraga. They replaced roofs, ceilings, windows and doors. They also fixed electrical systems and painted walls in the classrooms.

The mission, however, was viewed with suspicion by the left. A spokesperson of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Bicol said the mission was just a “publicity gimmick to divert attention from its real purpose which is to make the presence of US troops in the country more acceptable.”

Missions like the one brought by US soldiers in Albay, according to Bayan Bicol spokesperson John Concepcion, “are always paired with surveillance operations and spying.”

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Mar S. Arguelles | Inquirer Southern Luzon | Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 | Article Link