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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP, US troops break ground for new school building in Palawan ahead of Balikatan

AFP, US troops break ground for new school building in Palawan ahead of Balikatan

Published Mar 28, 2026 04:39 pm
Filipino and United States military personnel, together with local community leaders and educators, perform the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new two-classroom building at New Ibajay Elementary School in El Nido, Palawan on March 27, 2026 as part of the activities slated under the Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
Filipino and United States military personnel, together with local community leaders and educators, perform the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new two-classroom building at New Ibajay Elementary School in El Nido, Palawan on March 27, 2026 as part of the activities slated under the Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
Three weeks before the official start of the Exercise Balikatan, the largest annual bilateral military drills between the Philippines and United States, Filipino and American troops swapped rifles for shovels to break ground for a two-classroom building in El Nido, Palawan on Friday, March 27.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US military said the initiative seeks to address a long-standing education crisis in the town facing the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The ceremony took place at one of the exercise areas of the 41st iteration of Balikatan, which is scheduled to begin on April 20.
“The project delivers a direct, high-impact response to classroom shortages, helping decongest facilities and improve learning conditions for students,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP’s public affairs office.
While often associated with high-stakes naval maneuvers and live-fire drills in the WPS, this year’s version of Balikatan emphasized the “soft power” of the alliance.
Under the Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) of Balikatan, the AFP said that the project reflects the two countries’ partnership in action, effectively serving as a bridge “linking defense cooperation with tangible community development.”
Trinidad said the construction of the classrooms represents just the beginning of this year's civil-military operations.
With the Exercise Balikatan set to formally commence this April, similar HCA activities are expected to be implemented, continuing the tradition of coupling joint military training with meaningful community engagement,” he said.
Earlier, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said this year’s iteration of Balikatan will be the “largest” on record in terms of activities to be conducted, as well as the maiden participation of Japanese troops in combat activities.
Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Brawner said the exercises will proceed at full scale.

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