US troop head hails AFP engineering skills
LEGAZPI CITY – After the month long RP-US joint Balikatan Exercises here in Bicol, “Filipino soldiers have shown excellent skills in engineering works” especially in designing structures, roads and in basic troubleshooting, said Capt. Kelly J. Schmader, head of the Balikatan’s joint civil, military and dental task force yesterday.
With 99.3 percent completed Engineering Civic Actions Programs (Encap) in the three provinces of Bicol – Masbate, Sorsogon and Albay, Schmader added: “They (AFP) are brilliant planners that their thorough planning allows them to execute (projects) with precision.”
Filipinos as touted for being resourceful was proven when they were able to assist the American soldiers on repairing the laser equipment during the Encap activity in Masbate, said Lt. Col. Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, public relations officer of the Balikatan task force.
“They innovated things and we found wielding very impressive which is something that we don’t know but surely we’ll bring to the US,” Schmader said after being on the experiences with the Philippine counterparts.
The Engineering team has 100 percent complete Encap projects including the 3-km road rehab in Brgy. Malidong in Pio Duran town, Albay; 1- km road repair and two-room school buildings in Brgy. Guruyan, Juban, Sorsogon; and another two classrooms Brgy. Dapdap, Uson, Masbate.
On the other hand, the water systems in the villages of Sawang and Dapdap in Uson town, Masbate are already 98 percent complete and on its final phase that were turned over to the provincial government of Masbate headed by Gov. Elisa T. Kho last Tuesday.
According to Brig. Gen. Tristan M. Kison, head of the joint task force for the Balikatan, at least 17, 314 Bicolanos were benefited by the Medical Civic Actions Programs (Medcap) which conducted last April 17.
In his reports, there were 13,892 beneficiaries of the free medical treatment in Bicol offering primary care, optometry, minor surgery, radiology for diagnosis and circumcision.
The RP-US team had also given dental services with 3,062 people undertaken tooth examination and extraction.
Tristan said veterinary services are also offered that at least 360 animals have been treated including 146 dogs of different breeds in the towns of Guinobatan and Libon, Albay on Monday and Tuesday.
“There are still ongoing Medcap activities in Brgy. Mauraro, Guinobatan and Brgy. Cotmon, Camalig, Albay which are being continued by the Filipino soldiers,” Tristan announced.
Aside from Encap and Medcap activitities, Philippine and US servicemen extended their community aids to the children programs.
At least 4,004 children whose ages 8 to 14 years old flocked to their elementary schools in the remote villages in Masbate and Albay for feeding programs and some gift giving activities.
Tristan cited the beneficiaries received school supplies such as notebooks, pencils and slippers while the team had conducted parlor games for entertainment.
On the other hand, Schmader expressed his deepest gratitude to the eight-year-old girl who handed him a Thank You card before they leave the site.
“I’ll always treasure the memories in the Philippines with this card,” he told the Inquirer.
Johana Vi Gasga
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