Balikatan 2010 is an annual bilateral training exercise designed to increase interoperability between the AFP and U.S. military and the two nations’ ability to operate together fluidly when responding to future natural disasters.

During his closing ceremony remarks, AFP Gen. Delfin N. Bangit, chief of staff for the AFP, thanked participants “for the most successful conduct of the Balikatan exercise in recent years.”

Balikatan 2010 included humanitarian and civic assistance projects in Ilocos Sur in northern Luzon, which began Feb. 14. These humanitarian and civic assistance projects consisted of engineering, medical, dental and humanitarian projects.

Engineering projects included: demolishing a school and building a new two-room school on the site; demolishing an old structure and building a new health care center; building two new school building on empty sites; refurbishing a two-room school to include new roofing and continuing the construction of a flood protection Gabion wall, according to Navy Lt. David Loberg, a Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force liaison officer, in an e-mail.

About 3,500 man-days of construction took place using about $325,000 in materials, Loberg said.

Also, 13 medical or dental capabilities projects were held at eight different locations, which included medical, dental, optometry and minor surgeries, he said. AFP and U.S. medical personnel treated more than 12,000 patients.

During 10 veterinary capability projects at seven different locations, military veterinarians treated about 2,865 animals including pigs, chickens, dogs and a pet monkey, Loberg said.

About $57,000-worth of medical materials were used in the medical, dental and veterinarian visits, he said.

These projects enhanced the quality of life in the region and improved Philippine-U.S. military civic action cooperation, said AFP Rear Adm. Ramon P. Espera Jr., the Philippine exercise director for Balikatan 2010 and Sagip 2010.

The medical and dental visits have had the long-term effect of improving people’s health, he said.

The engineering projects did more than construct buildings; they also built friendships, Espera added.

A scenario-based staff exercise was a major component of Balikatan 2010. AFP and U.S. forces practiced joint force management at the headquarters level during the staff exercise.

Balikatan 2010 also included numerous cross-training and field exercises in central Luzon and the Cavite province.

Training at Fort Magsaysay in central Luzon included tactical casualty care in which U.S. medical personnel taught AFP soldiers life saving techniques. Also at Fort Magsaysay, U.S. Army military police learned jungle survival from AFP experts and shared  their MP expertise with their AFP counterparts.

Training in Cavite included a boat raid with U.S. and AFP forces.

Additional training took place in Crow Valley and other locations.

“This field training is a key component of Balikatan,” said Brig. Gen. William M. Faulkner, U.S. exercise director for Balikatan 2010 and Sagip 2010 and commanding general of 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

“If the time ever comes, we will be better prepared to exercise our capabilities,” he said.

AFP and U.S. participants of Balikatan 2010 also completed 20 community relations visits throughout Luzon, delivering five tons of clothes, shoes, toys and school supplies, Loberg said. About $7,000 in school supplies and sports equipment were bought through the local economy and also distributed, he added.

Overall, this cultural interaction touched the lives of more than 8,500 school children, Loberg said.

The intangible benefit of the interaction between AFP and U.S. service members and the Filipino people is “winning the support of our countrymen,” Espera said.

This year’s Balikatan validated the strong bonds of mutual support between the Philippines and the U.S., said Bangit.

“Balikatan is a manifestation of how we continue to invigorate and reinvent our alliance,” he said of the relationship between the two nations.

“The true value of Balikatan is to serve as an interface between our forces for sharing experience and lessons learned,” he said.