ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 02 Feb) Philippine and US military engineers are to build at least three classrooms in the southern Jolo island as part of a joint humanitarian project under the Balikatan program, a Filipino army commander said Thursday.
Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, head of military forces in Jolo, said the classrooms will benefit Muslim students at the Sulu High School.
"This is part of the Balikatan and we will start the construction of at least three school rooms for the Sulu High School and this humanitarian project is only one of many that we will undertake together with the US soldiers for the benefit of people of this beautiful island," General Aleo told the Zamboanga Journal.
He said the project will be undertaken by members of the Philippine Army Engineering Brigade and the US Air Force Engineers. Benjamin Loong, the island's governor, on Wednesday led government and military officials to the ground breaking ceremony in Jolo town, he said.
The project is worth is worth almost two million pesos, General Aleo said. "We are only awaiting the arrival of equipment from the US Air Force Engineers, so we can begin the project right away," he said.
In December, American and Filipino troops held their first medical mission in Parang town, southwest of Jolo, which benefitted more than 1,500 people and the US military spent over $15,000 in medical and other humanitarian supplies for the community outreach project in the town.
Just last week, Philippine and US soldiers finished another medical mission in the island's northern town of Indanan. They distributed more than $10,000 worth of medical and humanitarian assistance supplies to some 1,000 patients.
Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, head of military forces in Jolo, said the classrooms will benefit Muslim students at the Sulu High School.
"This is part of the Balikatan and we will start the construction of at least three school rooms for the Sulu High School and this humanitarian project is only one of many that we will undertake together with the US soldiers for the benefit of people of this beautiful island," General Aleo told the Zamboanga Journal.
He said the project will be undertaken by members of the Philippine Army Engineering Brigade and the US Air Force Engineers. Benjamin Loong, the island's governor, on Wednesday led government and military officials to the ground breaking ceremony in Jolo town, he said.
The project is worth is worth almost two million pesos, General Aleo said. "We are only awaiting the arrival of equipment from the US Air Force Engineers, so we can begin the project right away," he said.
In December, American and Filipino troops held their first medical mission in Parang town, southwest of Jolo, which benefitted more than 1,500 people and the US military spent over $15,000 in medical and other humanitarian supplies for the community outreach project in the town.
Just last week, Philippine and US soldiers finished another medical mission in the island's northern town of Indanan. They distributed more than $10,000 worth of medical and humanitarian assistance supplies to some 1,000 patients.
"Our goal here is to provide capacity building to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), conduct together civil military operations in conflict-affected areas and provide a secure environment so that development and social progress can occur,” said US Special Forces Colonel James Linder, commander of the Zamboanga City-based Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines.
Both Parang and Indanan towns have a combined population of about 80,000, with very limited access to rudimentary medical services.
Filipino and US troops are also expected to renovate dilapidated mosques and health centers and conduct medical mission in other poor villages during the month long Balikatan, the codename for the training exercise in Jolo, one of the poorest provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
The influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, praised the classroom project, saying, education is an important tool to defeat poverty.
"Education is important to everyone. Knowledge makes a person more responsible and education is one tool to defeat poverty which is the root cause of all evils," Sultan Pulalun said in a separate interview.
He earlier called on all Muslims to support the Balikatan humanitarian program in Jolo. "Let us show the world that we are peaceful citizens. I appeal to every Muslims to welcome our American visitors and support their peaceful cause," Sultan Pulalun said.
This year's Balikatan is the 22nd in a series of annual joint training exercise that began in 1981. Hundreds of US and Filipino soldiers are participating in the Balikatan.
Officials said the exercise is consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement and will improve combined planning of the US and Philippine military forces. It is one of many ongoing activities under the framework of RP-US military security cooperation.
The Balikatan demonstrates Washington's resolve to continue the commitment to train, advice and assist the Philippine military to its capacity to combat terrorism.
Officials said the training would only be for about two weeks, but US and Filipino soldiers may stay longer for the conduct of medical mission and other humanitarian activities in Jolo.
General Aleo praised the sultan for his strong commitment to peace and support to the Balikatan program. "We really appreciate the support of Sultan Pulalun and our Muslim brothers because we are also for peace," he said.
Sultan Pulalun said the Muslims on the island will benefit more from the humanitarian aspect of the Balikatan. He also appealed to Washington and Manila to send more humanitarian aid to the island to help many poor families.
"We ask for nothing in return, but I humbly appeal to the US and Philippine governments to help our poor people and give them access to basic services, such as health and education," Sultan Pulalun, who is active in humanitarian works in the south, said.
Many poor families in Jolo benefit only from free medical services when non-governmental organizations conduct humanitarian missions on the island.
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