US ship to hold community service in RP this month

A US Navy ship will visit the Philippines this month to conduct community service and medical mission to selected areas in the country, the US Embassy in Manila announced yesterday.

The embassy said in a statement that the specific dates and ports of call will be announced later.

The USS Blue Ridge and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will deliver donations including clothes, toys, food, and medical supplies and provide free health clinics for poor residents in remote communities. The team will also construct and rehabilitate public schools and public buildings.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the visit of the USS Blue Ridge in the country reflects the long-standing ties between the Philippines and the US as well as the continued commitment of both countries to work together to assist people in need of humanitarian outreach.

"The American people are committed to working with our friends and partners in the Philippines. I’m proud that the USS Blue Ridge is visiting the Philippines, and I know that the dedicated men and women on board are excited to visit this beautiful country and to partner with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist the Filipino people," Kenney said.

Aside from medical personnel, USS Blue Ridge will also deploy a small team of engineers composed of Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three in Okinawa and Marines from the First Marine Air Wing in Okinawa to perform repair and minor construction projects.

The engineering team will be joined by a group of engineers from the AFP.

The US 7th Fleet Band is also deployed aboard the ship and will be performing in selected locations during its visit.

USS Blue Ridge conducts many community service projects in the region on a regular basis as a show of goodwill and partnership from the US Navy.

The ship is commanded by Capt. Jeff Bartkoski and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. USS Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, US 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

The US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy arrived last May in Manila for a month-long mission of providing humanitarian and civic assistance in selected locations in Mindanao, including the Sulu area.