Filipino And US Soldiers Construct School Building In Pampanga

Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, August 30, 2012 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), and United States Pacific Air Force  (PACAF) formally kicked-off the month-long Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) at Cacutud Elementary School, Barangay Cacutud, Mabalacat, Pampanga recently.

A simple ceremony which was attended by participating troops, as part of the series of joint and combined Humanitarian Civil Assistance (HCA) and Civil Military Operations (CMO) under the Pacific Unity 12-6.

A U.S. Pacific Command-funded humanitarian assistance mission and a bilateral and joint engineering civic action program conducted by the AFP and US forces in cooperation with the provincial government of Pampanga and Tarlac. Among those who graced the occasion were Lieutenant Colonel Relly Francisco, Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 1^st Air Division, Philippine Air Force (1^st AD, PAF); Captain Carey Davis US Air Force, Officer-In-Charge, 13^th Air Force of the US, and the Principal of Cacutud Elementary School, and other visitors.

Relative to this, a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) will also be conducted in an exercise scenario to perform joint and combined response in a mass casualty situation. Military doctors and dentists from the AFP Reserve Command together with the participating agencies and partner stakeholders will also conduct Cooperative Health Engagement (CHE) which includes MEDCAP and Dental Civic Action Program (DENCAP) in Villa Bacolor, Tarlac City.

Subject Matter Expertise Exchange (SMEEs) on Master Base Planning, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) and Table Top Exercise on HA/DR will also be held at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga and Clark Air Base, Mabalacat, Pampanga. Joining the month-long activity are the Philippine National Police, Local Government Units, Local Government Agencies, and Non-Government Organizations.

Barangay and school officials in the area are very thankful that their place was chosen as beneficiary of the school projects of the soldiers. Barangay Councilor Aurelio Gamtan of Barangay Cacutud said that these projects being undertaken by the soldiers will be of great help to their community especially to school children.