8,000 US, Pinoy soldiers to join Balikatan 2013

MANILA, Philippines - About 8,000 Filipino and American soldiers will take part in this year’s Balikatan exercise from April 5 to 17.

The 29th Balikatan involving other allies in the region will be held in Camp O’Donnell and Crow Valley in Tarlac, Subic Bay, and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Balikatan 2013 will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster response to enable the government to develop emergency management mechanisms.

“The exercise is designed to enhance the AFP and the US military in capability development in the conduct of both traditional military training and civil military projects focusing on reaching out towards communities that need priority,” he said.

“The end goal of these exercises is to further promote and foster the existing friendship between the people of the Philippines and the United States and advance the security and stability of the region in the near future.”

One of the highlights is the multinational maritime tabletop exercise in Camp Aguinaldo.

It aims to map out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in high-traffic international waters.

It also seeks to build confidence among the Philippines, the US and their partner nations.

Balikatan participants will also conduct humanitarian assistance projects in Zambales, the province where Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is located.