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NEWS | March 22, 2019

Balikatan 2019: AFP, U.S. Army begin construction project at Pagasa Elementary

By Photos by Sgt. Scott Vargas, 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment USACAPOC

Philippine Airmen and U.S. Soldiers came together with local officials to begin a construction project at Pagasa Elementary School.

Airmen from the 355th Aviation Engineer Wing, Armed Forces of the Philippines and soldiers from the 561st Engineer Construction Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command and 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, 351st Civil Affairs Command, take part in a catered lunch during the Engineering Civic Action Project 4 opening ceremony as part of Exercise Balikatan, March 12, 2019.

During the exercise planning process, military planners visited various locations in coordination with AFP and local officials to nominate sites. Numerous factors were taken into account, including logistics requirements, unit capabilities, and exercise requirements. Pagasa Elementary School was selected as one of the Balikatan construction projects following this selection process.

The military relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines is strong and based on mutual respect and cooperation.

Exercise Balikatan, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-terrorism, and other combined military operations.