Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) – Around 8,900 Filipino and American soldiers are set to participate in this year’s Balikatan Exercise, which would be the “largest-ever,” according to military officials.
An estimated 3,800 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and 5,100 soldiers from the United States will train together from March 28 to April 8 in areas across Luzon, the joint information bureau of the PH-US Balikatan 2022 announced on Tuesday.
Last year, less than a thousand military personnel from the Philippines and US took part in the annual exercise. In 2020, the joint drills were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said among the focus of this year’s training are “maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
“The exercise also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and US forces’ ability to plan, command, and communicate with each other in a simulated environment. This training will bolster the collective security and defensive capabilities of the alliance,” the information bureau said in a statement.
It added that humanitarian and civic assistance projects will be conducted during the Balikatan. These include the renovation of four elementary schools, multiple community health engagements, and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques.
Authorities said COVID-19 protocols, such as social distancing and wearing of face masks, will be implemented “as operationally feasible” during the joint drills.
