U.S. Embassy News Release
October 30, 2006 U.S.

Marines, Philippine Seabees Renovate Palawan School During Annual Exercises

The sound of pounding hammers and buzzing saws was in the air as a joint team of U.S. and Philippine service members helped the Barangay Inagauan community in Palawan renovate its elementary school as part of the annual bilateral military exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX), held in October.

Philippine Seabees teamed up with U.S. Marines from the Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 31 for an engineering civic action project to improvement the school building that hosts approximately 200 students. 

The Marines and sailors mixed cement and made repairs to cracks in the school’s graduation stage.  In another building, the soldiers – all construction and engineering specialists -- constructed a wall to form a second classroom.  They also made structural repairs and re-roofed the same building.  The re-roofing process involved using hammers to beat the nuts and bolts off of the old sheet metal so it could be removed. Once it was taken off, new sheet metal was installed and secured.  Some of the buildings in the school had not seen repair in almost 20 years.

Pictured above, a Philippine Navy officer and a U.S. Marine corporal prepare ceiling beams for the school.  "It's hard work, very hard work, but knowing that we are helping children makes it all worthwhile," said U.S. Marine Pfc. Corey Frantz, combat engineer from CLB-31.

Working in a joint environment helped service members build relationships as well as learn a little more about each other's culture.  Philippine Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Antonio Tolentino, a Seabee from nearby City of Puerta Princesa, said he appreciated the U.S. Marines coming to the Philippines and getting involved with the local community, especially with a school near his hometown.

"This is my first time working with the Philippine Seabees and it is amazing what they can do with limited resources," Frantz said.

"I look at the Philippine Seabees and I see a group of people that can do a lot with little supplies and it seems to me that between my Marines and the Seabees there has been a lot of camaraderie," said Marine Lt. Col. Scott Erdelatz, the CLB-31 commanding officer.

Civic action projects and community relations projects give U.S. service members an opportunity to experience the local culture and interact with the community.

"It gave everyone a chance to come out and help a different community and see different cultures and get away from what we do everyday back in Okinawa and on ship," said U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Randall Smith, an engineering equipment operator with CLB-31.

Erdelatz also said he was thankful for the fact that his Marines were able to come out and help volunteer in the local community.

The project took four days to complete; the improved school was unveiled in a turnover ceremony on October 28.

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