PH-US Balikatan
2014 Cooperative Health Engagement in Tacloban City
By DPAO, 8ID PA
May 10, 2014
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City, Samar – Troops under the Armed Forces of the Philippines and
the United States Armed Forces that formed part of the Balikatan
Exercises 2014 conducted cooperative health engagement or medical
mission at Fishermen’s Village Elementary School, Brgy. 88, San Jose.
Tacloban City on May 10, 2014.
Maj. Gen. Emeraldo C.
Magnaye AFP, the Balikatan 2014 AFP Lead Directorate and Brig. Gen
Nelson of U.S. Marine Corps led the troops in conducting medical
treatment and veterinary services from 9:00a.m. up to 4:00p.m.
The activity was also
attended by Atty. Irene Chiu, the executive assistant of the City of
Tacloban and Hon. Emelita S. Montalban, Barangay Chairwoman of the
host barangay. The activity benefited 544 medical patients broken down
into 196 pedia and 348 adult patients. Likewise, 50 dogs and a cat
received anti-rabies vaccinations from the veterinary service.
Atty. Chiu in her message
appreciated the presence of U.S. and AFP troops in rendering medical
mission in their city even after six months when the tragedy struck
the city. “You were here during the aftermath of the super typhoon and
you are here again six months after. With that, I would like to
acknowledge and thank the unsung heroes of the Philippine Army and the
U.S. Marines and everyone who responded to Tacloban City during the
early part of the tragedy and helped us regain our strength,” she
said.
On the part of U.S. forces,
Brig Gen Nelson commenting on why they have chosen Tacloban City for
the medical mission said, “We felt that after the super typhoon
Yolanda, Tacloban City is a great place to anchor Balikatan. We want
to show our friendship, and this activity is also a good way to get
back to the great people, the Filipinos. I was here three days after
the super typhoon and what I see now six months after the typhoon is
vast improvement. People have come together in rebuilding communities.
The resilience of the Filipino people is amazing and very heart
warming.”
Commenting on the Balikatan
medical mission in Tacloban City, Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino AFP said,
“The Balikatan 2014 cooperative health engagement or medical mission
at Brgy 88, Tacloban City manifests that the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit knows
no boundaries, as it lingers even among other nationalities, even
among U.S Forces. Your Army in Eastern Visayas strongly supports this
kind of activity as it puts the people's welfare and well-being above
all other considerations.”