MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government has invited the US military to train alongside Filipino soldiers in the 33rd iteration of Balikatan in Luzon and the Visayas, the US embassy said yesterday.
The invitation came even as President Duterte has vowed to stop conducting military exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US military.
The US and the Philippine military will start the Balikatan 33-2017 with community engagement activities from May 8 to 19 in Panay, Leyte and Samar, according to the embassy.
US and Filipino soldiers will renovate five schools and conduct community medical engagements with local residents in the opening days of the 12-day military exercises.
Preliminary work on community infrastructure projects began mid-April.
“Balikatan is designed to meet current challenges facing the Philippines,” US embassy press attaché Molly Koscina said.
The Balikatan 33-2017 incorporates high value training events designed to enhance the capabilities of both the US and Philippine armed forces.
The training will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to improve response effectiveness and speed in the event of natural disasters and other crises that endanger public health and safety.
“Along with preparing the US forces’ and AFP’s ability to respond to natural disasters and deliver humanitarian aid, Balikatan will also increase the military’s counterterrorism capabilities,” Koscina said.
This year’s exercises will have the AFP and US forces build safer communities and work toward the eradication of global terror networks.
During the Balikatan, the soldiers will conduct operational and counterterrorism training in diverse areas of expertise, including live fire advanced marksmanship, counter improvised explosive devices (IED), maritime interdiction and amphibious raids.
In this year’s Balikatan, the Philippines and the US will continue to collaborate with regional partner nations.
Australia and Japan will participate in all major training events and the AFP has invited military forces from other nations to be part of the international observers program.
Despite Duterte’s earlier announcement to cut joint military exercises between the US and Filipino troops under his term, the US government believes that the previous exercises have better prepared the Philippine and American servicemen in responding to natural disasters and security threats in the region.
Duterte had declared that the last year’s Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 would be the last engagement of the AFP with the US under his term, saying he intended to open relations with Beijing and Russia.
The US said it would not “soften” its tone regarding its criticism of human rights abuses and drug issues, noting conversation with the Philippines about these concerns is normal between allies and partners as part of a healthy bilateral relationship. – With Ding Cervantes