Balikatan 2019: AFP, U.S. Army begin construction project at Pagasa Elementary
(From left to right) Philippines Army Lt. Col. Francesca Dapiton, Office of the Chief Engineer, Mr. Francisco Bautista, Department of Education district supervisor, the Honorable Efren Pascual Jr., municipal mayor of Orani Bataan, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Tucker, Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force commander, render respect during the playing of the National Anthem at the Engineering Civic Action Project 4 opening ceremony as part of Exercise Balikatan, March 12, 2019. 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. The U.S. military is committed to supporting the humanitarian interests of our Philippine partners, as well as those of other regional allies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Scott Vargas)