Manila: Some 4,500 US troops are due to conduct drills in various parts of the country with Filipino counterparts and delegates from other countries next month, officials announced on Wednesday.
The 2012 edition of the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint exercises will be first time that participants from other countries will take part.
"Balikatan 2012 is the 28th iteration of Philippine-US bilateral exercise but it will be the first ever multilateral event wherein other countries will be involved in the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response Exercise from April 16-27, 2012. \
Other participating countries are Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea. The scenario includes a response to a large-scale natural disaster centred on the Metro Manila Area, said US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas.
"Approximately 4,500 US personnel and 2,300 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel from all services are planning to participate in the exercise. This year's exercise is unique in that it is the first time that Balikatan will include multilateral engagement: an additional 20 participants from Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations) and 15 colleagues from partner nations plan to contribute to the CPX (Command Post Exercise). In addition, 385 local health professionals will support the HCA activities," Thomas added.
"As our military forces train together, our civil and military leadership will practice planning and decision making during a natural disaster scenario," said Thomas.
Defence treaty
Aside from CPX, the drills will also involve multiple field training exercises, and medical, veterinary, and engineering humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) projects. Lt Gen Jessie D Dellosa, chief of the Philippine armed forces, said the 2012 Balikatan will be the third humanitarian assistance-disaster response focused bilateral exercise since 2008. He said the drills are based on the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty between the United States and the Philippines.
"The exercise is designed to enhance the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces interoperability in the conduct of not only on traditional military training but also on non-traditional aspects that reach out to communities in need of urgent assistance. The activity is conducted every year to serve as a venue for joint and combined training between the Philippine and United States militaries," Dellosa said.
