February 5, 2008
MINDANAO AND SULU TO RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
DURING RP-US “BALIKATAN 2008”
Balikatan 2008 is an annual Republic of the Philippines-U.S. bilateral military humanitarian assistance and training activity. It will take place in the Philippines from February 18 through March 3, 2008.
In Central and Western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, Philippine and U.S. members of the armed forces will conduct approximately 23 humanitarian assistance projects. There will be no military exercises or war games conducted in Mindanao or Sulu. Approximately 600 U.S. troops will work with civilian authorities and the AFP in these regions on humanitarian projects. The AFP/U.S. teams will offer free medical, dental, and veterinary care. They will also construct and repair schools and other community infrastructures in areas of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago that are in great need of assistance. The majority of U.S. personnel are construction engineers and medical specialists. They will be working side-by-side with their AFP counterparts who will be in charge of all projects.
“These humanitarian assistance and training activities enable our soldiers to get to know each other, train together, and provide assistance in communities where the need is greatest,” said U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney. “True to the meaning of the word balikatan, Americans and Filipinos are shouldering the load together to help the greatest possible number of people in need.”
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).
For additional information, contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office at (632) 301-2363 or via e-mail to mnlinfooffice@state.gov.
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