CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, March 19, 2011-Villager beneficiaries of five barangays in Central Luzon lauded the Army, Air Force and Navy engineering units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States components of Balikatan 2011 in the ongoing construction of two (2) room-two school buildings in Babancal Elementary School, Candelaria, Zambales; Pundakit Elementary School, San Antonio, Zambales; Angel C. Manglicmot Elementary School, Barangay Angeles, San Antonio, Zambales; Lubigan Elementary School, San Jose, Tarlac; and Pedro L. Quines Elementary School, Mayantoc, Tarlac which is expected to be completed on April 14 or 15, 2011.
They also conducted free medical, dental and veterinary services to the residents of Barangay Babancal in Candelaria, Zambales; Barangay San Miguel, Angeles and Pundakit, all in San Antonio, Zambales; Barangay Tariji, Tarlac City; and Barangay Mangahan, Mayantoc, Tarlac where the school grounds of respective villages are the sites agreed upon for the humanitarian mission. Other activities designed to enhance community relations are also included in the Balikatan schedule.
Lieutenant Colonel Rosendo D. Armas, spokesperson of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) said that to enhance readiness and interoperability between the Philippines and US militaries, this is now the 27th in the series of bilateral exercises conducted every year in the country for the purpose of strengthening our defense relationship with the United States.
Earlier, a groundbreaking ceremony was witnessed by the local and school officials in the site projects. (Jason de Asis)
