U.S. Embassy News Release

U.S. Embassy News Release

June 26, 2007

 

 

U.S. Navy Tackles Flood Control in Bicol Region During USS Peleliu’s Visit

 

 

U.S. Navy Seabees and Sailors joined partners from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to begin clearing thousands of tons of dirt and debris from a portion of the Tagas River in Tabaco City, Bicol Region.

 

This flood control effort – one of many humanitarian projects the U.S. Navy is conducting during their “Pacific Partnership” goodwill mission –  comes as a response to typhoon-spawned landslides that clogged the river late last year.  Pictured above, local residents watch U.S. Navy Seabees load a five-ton dump truck with dirt and debris from the Tagas River.

 

Through Pacific Partnership, projects like this are being completed throughout the Bicol Region and locations in the southern Philippines, including Jolo and Cotabato.  The USS Peleliu (LHA 5) is currently in the Philippines for Pacific Partnership, a four-month humanitarian assistance mission to Southeast Asia and Oceania that includes specialized medical care and various construction and engineering projects.

 

This mission reflects longstanding ties between the United States and the Philippines, as well as our continued commitment to work together to assist the people of the Philippines.

 

Using a bulldozer, a front end loader, and three five-ton dump trucks, a team of seven U.S. Navy Seabees has removed between 250 and 300 cubic yards of dirt and debris from the site each day, according to EO1(SCW) George Petrofski, the project’s supervisor.  “Thus far, I’m pretty happy,” said Petrofski, in reference to his team’s early progress. “Being in construction you get to see the fruits of your labor directly. This river was completely backed up when we got here, and now it’s open.”

 

The flood control project began to take shape when Petrofski and other members of a pre-deployment survey team came to the region and began assessing how the Navy could best help with the community’s needs.  During that assessment, local officials pointed out that flood control of the Tagas River was a top priority, said Petrofski.

 

“The U.S. (Navy) has technology that can help us,” said Capt. Angel Gerapusco, team leader for the Tabaco City division of the Army Engineers of the Philippines. “We appreciate the presence of the U.S. government, and our partnership with this type of job.”

 

The Seabees plan of attack for cleaning up the river is simple.  “We come to the site each morning, we set up, and we go straight to work,” said CM3 Shawn Pope. “It’s ‘turn and burn’ to get everything done.  Solid, non-stop work.”

 

“Turning and burning” entails a repetitive three-step process that the Seabees use with each passing hour during the work day. First, the bulldozer scrapes along the river bed, which compacts the dirt into large piles. The front end loader then scoops up the material for deposit into the dump trucks, which then complete the process by hauling their cargo approximately three miles to a local dumpsite.

 

Though the hours are long and the routine is unwavering, Petrofski feels there is no shortage of morale amongst his team members. He credits this to the throngs of local onlookers -- most of them children -- who have been gathering at the job site since day one of the project.  “Our hosts bend over backwards to make us feel welcome in the community,” said the project supervisor.  “It really warms your heart when something like that happens.”

 

Other members of the Seabee team share their leader’s point of view.  “The hospitality here is just unbelievable,” said CM3 Shawn Pope, who is participating in this kind of project for the first time with his fellow Seabees. “It makes me feel good knowing I’m doing something to help another community.”

 

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