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Foreword

Australian and
U.S. Forces
Strengthening
Regional Security

Philippine and U.S. Forces Provide Disaster Relief for Typhoon Victims

International HIV/Aids Conference

Building Global Networks to Combat Security Threats

Medical Civic Action Projects (MEDCAPs)
During the medical projects, conducted in typhoon-impacted areas, AFP and U.S. military medical personnel treated more than 23,000 patients, distributed medical supplies, and examined more than 1,000 animals. U.S. Army Col. David Crudo noted the tremendous turnout in the first five of 11 scheduled clinics. “Each clinic has been extremely successful,” he said.

Filipino patient Cecile Adornado, who visited the General Nakar Elementary School MEDCAP in Quezon province, said, “The medical care we received is very important, because most of us cannot afford it on our own. We want to thank everyone who came to help. May God bless you all for your efforts.”

“Everyone at the clinic has been very patient, friendly, and kind to us,” said 24-year-old Filipino Rose Santileces, a participant in the MEDCAP clinic at the Liliw Elementary School MEDCAP in Laguna province. “It’s really thoughtful of all of you to come and help us. We truly appreciate what you’re doing here in the Philippines.”

Working alongside their AFP counterparts helps the U.S. medical team provide better care. “There are certainly some symptoms here in the Philippines that our doctors have never seen before, so it’s nice to have someone who has and can teach you how to treat them,” said Col. Crudo. “It’s also important on the U.S. side, that our healthcare providers learn how to do medicine in an austere environment without your usual accompaniment of [laboratories], X-rays, and a huge pharmacy. They learn to make diagnoses based on their clinical skills and treat them with the medicines available.”

AFP Capt. (Dr.) Farida Suplido said working with U.S. medical personnel has been a learning experience. “During each MEDCAP, I’ve gotten a lot of ideas from my U.S. counterparts on how to treat patients,” said Capt. Suplido, an emergency physician. “This interaction has allowed me to develop my medical skills and be more confident in dealing with people regardless of their personality or culture.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Chad Ramme, a veterinary technician, agreed. “It’s a wonderful experience to see how other countries and other military services perform their functions in regard to how I do my job,” he noted. “They have techniques that I haven’t seen before that I’m probably going to take back to my job site. We have people who bring their animals in and thank us profusely. It’s good to see them come out with smiles on their faces when they come and especially after their pets have received care.”

Constructing Classrooms
AFP Navy and Air Force engineers worked shoulder to shoulder with U.S. Army engineers constructing two buildings on the campus of San Buenaventura High School. The buildings, which provide additional classrooms, including a computer and science laboratory, will help improve the opportunity for local teens to receive a quality education. The new buildings will also allow for a larger enrollment of students in the San Buenaventura area.

“We are very grateful to the military and the Philippine government for giving us this gift,” said school principal Andrea T. Apaya. “The students, my staff, and the community here are very thankful for this.”

Improving a Farm-to-Market Road
AFP engineers and U.S. Navy Seabees joined to improve a 1.2-kilometer farm-to-market road connecting the towns of Alima and San Buenaventura in Laguna province. “We’re working to improve an existing road – one that people use to transport their agricultural products from the farm to the market,” said U.S. Navy CPO Ralph Hohl. “Before we began working on the road, most [citizens] could only get through by riding on a [water buffalo]. Once this project is complete, getting back and forth from the market will be much easier for the people here.”

The road-construction project will also help children get to and from school. “We’re told by residents that during the rainy season, parents wouldn’t allow their children to go to school because of the mud and the children getting sick,” noted CPO Hohl. “Now their clothes won’t be muddy, and they’ll be able to continue their education.”

AFP Army Capt. Jose Jun De Vela, construction project officer, said his soldiers have enjoyed the combined training atmosphere. “This exercise has provided us a good experience working with our American counterparts,” he said. “In a way, we were able to share our skills with them, and they were able to do the same with us. We hope that this will be a tradition and will continue, so we’re able to work with them in the future.”

Conclusion
Commenting on the success of BALIKATAN 2005 at the closing ceremony, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom said, “The biggest Success of this year’s BALIKATAN is the learning, interoperability, and cooperation shown while working shoulder to shoulder every day between the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the AFP and the U.S.”

Exercise BALIKATAN 2005 improved AFP-U.S. combined planning and interoperability, added to the quality of life in the exercise areas, and strengthened friendships and understanding among the two forces – all necessary in deterring threats and responding to natural disaster. The exercise also demonstrated U.S. resolve, consistent with the mutual defense treaty and visiting forces agreement.