US military sets aside $100,000 for Talon, Phiblex civic projects

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The US military is spending $100,000 for local services and for medical, dental and civic missions in various communities near the venues of its Talon Vision and Philippine Bilateral Exercise (Phiblex) joint military exercises with the Philippine Armed Forces.

The military exercises started last Sunday in various parts of Luzon.

US Marine Capt. Burrell Parmer, spokesman of the US military contingent in the exercises, said thousands of Filipinos are expected to benefit from the $100,000 allocation, including at least 1,000 Aetas and other villagers at the Crow Valley range in Tarlac where live fire exercises will be held.

Parmer said some 4,500 US Marine and Navy personnel are expected to join some 700 of their Filipino counterparts from the Air Force, Marines and Navy in the two exercises, which will end on Oct. 30.

Some 60 US Marines arrived here the other day to join 40 others who arrived earlier.

Some 25,000 more US personnel are expected to arrive on board a US Navy vessel where they would stay for "forward deployment" in amphibious exercises, Parmer said.

The joint military exercises are being held here, at Crow Valley north of Clark in Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, and Sangley Point in Ternate, Cavite.

Parmer said the $100,000 will be spent on contractual services, including the hiring of vehicles for the transport and other logistical needs of the US military, as well as on medical, dental and civic projects.

Part of the funds will also be used to replace the dilapidated roof of a school in Maragondon, Cavite, and for computers and school supplies which will be given to public schools in Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac and to the Ternate National High School in Cavite.

"I really feel good about these projects," Parmer said in a media briefing here, adding that the US Marine corps alone is spending some $5,000 for computers and school supplies for the beneficiary schools. — Ding Cervantes