Unity, friendship learned in Pacific Partnership 2012

CALBAYOG CITY -- Unity, peace, friendship and sharing of culture were the lessons learned from the 14-week medical mission and more than three months of civic works in the two provinces in the island of Samar.

This was according to high-ranking officials of the United States Army and Philippine Army and the representative of the first district of Samar in the closing ceremony of the 2012 Pacific Partnership (PP).

“This had contributed to the success of the project which was reflective to the ‘bayanihan’ spirit of Filipinos,” said Lieutenant General Gerardo Layug, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, in his closing speech.

The PP12, the largest joint humanitarian mission in the Pacific, stemmed from humanitarian initiatives following the tsunami that hit Indonesia in 2004 that killed more than 200,000 people.

Layug said that dedication to serve the people of Samar also contributed to the success of the project that includes the collective effort and full support of all public officials and non-government organizations.

“This collective effort will surely help in successfully achieving the peace and development effort for Samar,” Layug said.

More than a thousand military men and civilians participated in the biggest humanitarian mission in the Asian region, coming from nine countries headed by Japan and the United States.

More than 16,000 patients were treated in the 14 days of medical mission, exceeding their 10,000 target patients and seven infrastructures (classroom and health centers) were constructed, exceeding their target, which was only five buildings.

Commander of patrol and reconnaissance force 7th fleet, commander of patrol and reconnaissance force 5th fleet, commander of fleet air forward Rear Admiral Matthew Carter, in his closing speech, lauded the humanitarian mission for being a symbol for unity among nations.

“Pacific Partnership had brought together along the very best military, humanitarian, government and non-government organization, that we in the international community can offer,” Carter said.

He thanked all those who participated and devoted their time to render medical and civic works throughout the duration of the humanitarian mission that serves as inspiration and key to its success.

After the USNS Mercy visit in the island of Samar through the Pacific Partnership 2012, it went to Subic Bay and will stay there for three days, said mission commander Captain Jim Morgan. It will then sail to Vietnam and Cambodia to conduct the same activity. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)