Balikatan 2012 focuses on humanitarian and disaster response

Monday 16th of April 2012

QUEZON CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines together with the United States Armed Forces will come together for mutual defense and disaster response exercises beginning today April 16, 2012 for the Balikatan 2012 (BK12).

In a release, this year’s Balikatan Exercise is the 28th of its series that calls for a more responsive partnership with the community focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) Training.

According to the AFP, the 2012 RP-US Balikatan Exercise is a combined military exercise in accordance with the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

The exercise is designed to enhance the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces interoperability in the conduct of not only on traditional military training, but also on non-traditional aspects that reach out to communities in need of urgent assistance.

AFP chief Lieutenant General Jessie D. Dellosa said the cooperation between the two armed forces manifests the unwavering dedication and commitment of our security forces towards a more stable and secure Asia-Pacific region.

"The relationship between the US Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to be healthy and vibrant,” said Dellosa.

The AFP chief also expressed hopes that this year’s military exercise will be successful and fruitful that will help our troops to perform better and further improve their capabilities.

BK12 will be conducted simultaneously in different areas in the country. The first event is the Humanitarian and Civic Assistance projects in Palawan, designed to improve the Philippine and US military civic action cooperation, and train civil-military personnel to work together focusing on civic assistance and HA/DR.

The AFP and U.S. personnel will construct classrooms in five barangays and will conduct multiple medical, dental, veterinary civic action projects in identified communities.

Meanwhile, the second event involves cross-training and field training exercises in mainland Luzon and Palawan province. The said training is designed to improve the interoperability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military.

A Command Post Exercise (CPX) will also be conducted to test the current HA/DR concept plans of the AFP and other concerned government agencies.

The activity seeks to identify gaps and solutions from previous disaster situations that occurred recently in the Philippines and anticipated future calamities.

Members from the National Disaster Coordinating Council, Office of Civil Defense, Metro Manila Disaster Coordinating Council, AFP, United States Agency for International Development, United States Pacific Command, United Nations Country Team, United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Program, International Federation of the Red Cross and the Philippine Red Cross will participate in the said exercises until April 27, 2012 (Friday).

The conduct of BK12 affirms a long and lasting partnership founded firmly on mutual assistance as freedom-loving countries committed to the preservation of liberty, democracy and human life.

The end goal of the exercises is to further promote and foster the existing friendship between the people of the Philippines and the United States and advance the security and stability in the region. (AFP/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)