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

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