Balikatan Humanitarian Mission Kicks Off

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sun, 04/12/2009 - 17:08

Sorsogon Province (7 April) -- The RP-US Balikatan humanitarian mission formally opened here April 1 in a simple ceremony at Barangay Guruyan in Juban town, this province.

Barangay Guruyan is one of the identified recipient barangays of the joint military forces' engineering and medical missions.

Barangay Patag in Irosin, also among the identified priority areas, will receive health assistance, school buildings and road component projects.

Aside from Sorsogon, the provinces of Albay and Masbate were also identified as concerned areas in the Bikol region and beneficiaries of infrastructure and medical projects.

Juban Mayor Ma. Teresa Fragata said that officials of the recipient barangays were glad and thankful for the benefits that the mission would provide them. However, they are apprehensive of possible armed confrontations between military and communist terrorists that may harmly affect or hurt civilians in the midst of project implementation.

With this apprehension, she assured the local residents that the US-RP military groups are purely on a humanitarian mission and are non-combatants. "They will only stay here for a short period of time, and just like visitors, let us warmly welcome them," she said.

Asked about her position toward protesters, Fragata said that she would not bar any groups or organizations from holding protests against the conduct of Balikatan Exercises. "I believe rights and beliefs of every individual or groups must be respected, in fact, I have issued permits to hold protests to some militant groups here, and my office remains open to issuing permits to anyone who desires to hold the same," she added.

She made an appeal to protesters to maintain sobriety and peace, and to New People's Army (NPA) to ward off armed confrontations, particularly in areas where there are civilians. She urged the public to be supportive but vigilant while the mission is going on.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army 901st Infantry Brigade is confident that following the massive public information drive they have conducted in coordination with the Provincial Peace and Order Councils of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon, and even during the recently concluded Youth Day Camp in Albay, more Bikolanos have understood and will become more generous to give their share in the conduct of RP-US humanitarian missions in the region.

The 2009 RP-US mutual defense treaty or Balikatan Exercises are inclusions under the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which will cover both humanitarian and civic assistance projects for one-month period to be conducted by both Philippine and American military forces. (PIA Sorsogon)