Philippines-US Balikatan kicks off

MANILA, Philippines -  Philippine Air Force (PAF) crew will train and learn more about how it can deliver relief goods and other items during calamities or natural disasters faster and more efficiently in this year’s joint Balikatan exercises between American and Filipino soldiers.

Activities lined up for US and Philippine airmen include the actual conduct of airdrops within the island of Cebu. 

“Under this exercise, US aircrew will teach the PAF C-130 aircrew various techniques in airdropping procedures to expedite the delivery of relief supplies and aid affected areas without aerodromes and/or damaged aerodromes,” the PAF said.  

“In addition, some of the pre-determined topics of the Balikatan will include flight safety, air drop, night vision equipment, engine running on load and off-load, rapid deployment and compass system.”

The annual Philippines-US military exercise or Balikatan has officially begun in various locations in the country, particularly in Cebu where the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing is stationed.

Balikatan is a joint military event conducted under the auspices of Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that aims to improve bilateral engagement and training opportunities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Marine Forces Pacific (US MAFOPAC).

This year, PAF said selected aircrew and maintenance personnel of the 220th AW led by the Herky commander Maj. Anthony Amora and the Wing’s Balikatan officer-in-charge Maj. Michael Vincent Benolerao.

They will be directly involved in the different C-130-related Subject Matter Expert Exchange discussions. 

Philippine and US soldiers hold search and rescue drills during the Balikatan exercises at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija yesterday. MICHAEL VARCAS

“These activities will reinforce the knowledge, skills and ability of our airlifters in the techniques, tactics and procedures, including sharing of best practices, specifically on improving response effectiveness in the event of natural disasters and other crises, which is the focus of this year’s Balikatan,” PAF said.

In Nueva Ecija, Filipino and US troops were taught to rescue people trapped under debris during an earthquake under the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) of the Balikatan.

The exercise was held at the Army’s 7th Infantry Division headquarters at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

Maj. Frank Sayson, Philippine Balikatan exercises spokesman, said the joint quake drill is to hasten public awareness of the effects of major quakes and harness the disaster response capabilities of Filipino soldiers.

“These quake drill exercises are needed to be practiced on a much wider and bigger scale, considering that the country is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire,” Sayson said.

Overall, around 2,800 Filipino troops, 2,600 American soldiers, 80 from Australia and 20 Japanese troops are participating in this year’s joint military disaster drill.

During the drill proper, Army engineers and personnel, alongside their US counterparts, deployed various types of light to heavy equipment to rescue trapped victims.

Local and foreign observers were invited to witness how combined Filipino and US troops deal with the challenges in the aftermath of a major quake.

Aside from quake drills, combined Filipino and US forces are also holding massive HADR activities in the storm-prone island town of Calayan, Cagayan as well as in Maconacon in Isabela and in Casiguran, Aurora until next week.

The storm-themed joint drill is aimed at testing the disaster response capabilities of Filipino and US troops.  – With Jaime Laude