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Friday, February 15, 2008
US troops' equipment arrive in Jolo for Balikatan 2008
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Philippine and American troops are to begin joint humanitarian and medical missions in the island province of Sulu, south of Zamboanga City, top military and civil officials said.
Major General Ruben Rafael, chief of the Philippine military's Joint Task Force Comet, said several pieces of equipment have arrived in Jolo town, the capital of Sulu, as preparations are underway for the 15-day medical missions in three of 19 towns in the province.
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"We are prepared for the humanitarian activities and US equipment are already here for the joint medical missions that will begin February 18 and end March 3," Rafael said.
The humanitarian missions are part of the Balikatan 2008 (shoulder-to-shoulder), an annual Philippine and US bilateral military humanitarian assistance and training activity.
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said the humanitarian missions would help many poor families in his province.
"These humanitarian undertakings will help a lot of people and we are supporting these efforts and we appreciate what the United States is doing in Sulu," Tan said.
Tan said the mayors in the province's 19 towns are supporting the joint humanitarian activities of Filipino and US troops.
"Not only the mayors, but also other sectors in the community and the people themselves. This is a joint project and we will also participate in this good endeavor," he said.
Dr. Farah Omar, chief of the Sulu provincial health office, said Filipino doctors and nurses will join the medical missions.
"Our medical teams are ready and many people will surely benefit from these (humanitarian) activities," Omar said.
About 600 US troops will work with Philippine civil and military authorities in various humanitarian projects that include free medical, dental, and veterinary care not only in Sulu province but to include the central and Western parts of Mindanao.
US and Philippine soldiers, many of them construction engineers, will also repair and build schools and other community infrastructures in the identified areas of Balikatan 2008.
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the humanitarian assistance and training activities will enable Philippine and US soldiers to get to know each other, train together, and provide assistance in communities where the need is greatest.
Kenney said that true to the meaning of the word Balikatan, US and Filipino troops are shouldering the load together to help the greatest possible number of people in need.
While US and Filipino troops focus on humanitarian activities in Sulu and Mindanao, others participating in the Balikatan 2008 will conduct combined staff exercises and field training in Luzon and Palawan islands to improve contingency planning and strengthen maritime security.
Balikatan 2008 will be the 24th annual event of its kind held under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 15, 2008 issue)
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