(photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps, photo taken by Lance Cpl. Roger-Junior Annoh)
Along the roads of Lal-lo in Cagayan, United States and Philippine forces recently poured the final layers of concrete for a new multipurpose facility designed to support more than 1,200 residents across six nearby barangays.
Built during Balikatan 25 Exercise, the project addresses both daily community needs and disaster preparedness.
Located beside a schoolroom and a gymnasium, the new facility will provide emergency shelter during natural disasters, secure storage for school supplies, and a space for barangay-wide events and local programs.
“This project was about addressing real needs,” said U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Samuel Schurch, officer in charge of Engineering Civic Action Program site 1. “It’s a place the whole community can rely on for typhoon season or for day-to-day use.”
The warehouse was constructed by personnel from MWSS 174, the Philippine Air Force’s 355th Aviation Engineer Wing, and 3rd Littoral Logistics Battalion, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
Mere steps away from construction, a community health engagement in the adjacent gymnasium drew over 300 residents from Dagupan and surrounding barangays.
In a combined effort, medical and dental professionals from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military provided care and conducted educational sessions on preventive health and mental wellness.
They conducted 129 medical exams, prescribed 360 medications, administered nine targeted treatments, conducted 126 dental exams, and performed 61 fluoride treatments, 46 surgeries, and five dental cleanings. Additionally, optical specialists provided vision screenings and service members distributed over 330 meals.
“This joint health engagement underscores the tangible benefits of the U.S.-Philippine alliance,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Matthew J. Kelly-Desai, general dentist and U.S. community health engagement lead with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force. “These interactions reinforce our shared commitment to the health, welfare, and prosperity of the Filipino people.”
Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military that strengthens the alliance, improves combined capabilities, and demonstrates a shared commitment to regional security and stability.
