HOPES for new civil works and or medical-veterinary aid springs as a team of army civil military operations experts from the United States Pacific command end a Bohol study visit in the next few days.
The team, led by US Army Major David Larson and comprised of 5 more men met Capitol development planners Tuesday to discuss areas of mutual assistance.
The team, part of the joint cooperative agreements between the two nations is a part of the standard Balikatan team sent by the US to different areas across the globe, especially to countries sympathetic to the humanitarian cause, a Capitol bigwig who asked not to be identified said.
The team came to call on Governor Erico Aumentado accompanied by their counterparts in the Philippine Army, led by Carmen Bohol based 802nd Deputy Brigade Commander Col. Allan F. Martin.
Roger Alegado of the local Planning and development Office also briefed the team of the Bohol medium Term Development Plan. This is apparently to give them an idea of the areas where their assistance can come in.
Also at the presentation were Provincial health officer Reymoses Cabagnot, Veterinarian Stella Marie Lapiz, social welfare officer Constancia Tunacao, Poverty Reduction Management Officer Antonieto Pernia and Dep-Ed Superintendent Elpedio Jala.
“In the next 10 days, we would gather specific information and specific needs of the community and we would be looking at possibilities of putting help on the medical and veterinary services,” US Maj Larson said.
“But that does not mean we can not look up to the needs of water projects as presented and other civil works, he was quick to add.
Balikatan, a Filipino word which entails shouldering the load together pits US servicemen and their Filipino counterparts to help each other, those in need and enhance their skills in the spirit of give and take.
Aside from the usual jungle and warfare trainings which comes as a small part of the annual bilateral exercise between two countries, Balikatan also features dozens of medical and engineering projects for the host country, military sources said.
“Our troops are ready to maximize the opportunity to do something that will have lasting benefits for peace and social progress in the mission areas, Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Nestor Sadiarin said during previous exercises.
“We’ll do that by sharing the load together,” he added.
Sadiarin is the exercise co-director for this year’s Balikatan exercises, sources revealed.
“Joined together in a collective effort, our military medical professionals along with local doctors, nurses, veterinarians and volunteers will provide free medical, dental, and veterinary care to local communities where these services are most needed,” said U.S. Brig. Gen. John Y. H. Ma, co-exercise director of Balikatan 08 was quoted in military websites. (rachiu/PIA)
