RP-US PHIBLEX 13 FORGES CLOSER TIES BETWEEN PH – US

By 1Lt Cherryl Tindog PN(M)Philippine Marine Corps PAO
The 29th iteration of the Amphibious Landing Exercise between the Marines of the Philippines and United States of America officially closed on October 18 in Subic International Airport with the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Major General Rustico Guerrero as the Presiding Officer.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED

For the Filipino Marines, PHIBLEX13 as well as the other preceeding exercises did not only provide a training ground for command and control on joint operations, but it also established the foundation/ building blocks to provide capacity to the Philippine Marine Ready Force (PMRF) as the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Force in Readiness and the Nation’s Force of Choice in a Maritime Contigency and Territorial Defense Scenario. The PMRF is the maritime contingency option to address the emerging security threat of the country – a force in readiness that has a capacity to uphold the sovereignty of our country as well as preserve the integrity of our archipelagic territory.

ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RESPONSE

PHIBLEX  13 is focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response. It is significant to emphasize that the training objectives have been designed to respond to actual situations where our services are needed the most.

In 2009, Typhoon Ketsana or tropical storm Ondoy intensified and flooded the rural areas in the Philippines at 20feet high and buried many people and properties from landslides after landslides.  It was reported to be the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 pacific typhoon season with an estimated total damage of $1.09 billion and 747 fatalities. That time, the USS Tortuga and USS Harpers Ferry, and some of our brother Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit worked side by side Philippine military in delivering relief goods to aid communities affected by ondoy. This story will be remembered by many of our countrymen and will continue to underscore the significance of conducting bilateral execises such as PHIBLEX.

This interoperability that bilateral exercises have been enhancing throughout the years had served effectively in providing our countrymen with necessary response and relief. As the world continue to experience the fury of climate change, what our troops from both sides have learned together elevates our capability and preparedness at a higher level.

ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

In this year’s PHIBLEX , some residents of barangay Burgos, San Antonio, Zambales availed of free services on minor surgeries as well as medical, dental and pharmaceutical health care. A man in his forties who was suffering long from a marble-sized cyst on his left jaw had only grateful words to say to Filipino and American troops for a free surgery done on him.

For the residents of Barangay Dalipawen in San Narciso, Zambales, education is something that their children will not likely complete.

But when 2 classrooms were built by combined RP and US troops during PHIBLEX 13, Mrs Lea Marie Rivera, mother of 2 school-aged boy and girl is more than happy in knowing that her children will at least finish grade school. With additional classrooms in Dalipawen Elementary School, more children will be accommodated and will be given added facilities that will facilitate better learning.

The 2-classroom building forms part of the humanitarian civic action program of the PHIBLEX 2013 with an aim of promoting the welfare and future of Filipino communities.

CLOSING TIME

In his remarks during the Closing rites, Co-exercise Director and Commanding General of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Brigadier General Craig Timberlake emphasized that PHIBLEX 13 allowed the 2 nations to share tighter bonds especially in times of crisis. On the other hand, US Ambassador Harry Thomas said PHIBLEX is one of the aspects that bespeaks of the partnership and friendship of the Philippines and United States that long stood together amidst hardships. Undersecretary Edilberto Adan noted that PHIBLEX enhances regional security and peace time disaster response, as well as the humanitarian civic action programs. Brigadier General Remigio Valdez, Co-exercise director and Philippine Marine Corps Deputy Commandant, celebrates on a lighter note the good weather and the general safety that were experienced by the participants all throughout the duration of the exercise.

For the presiding officer and Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Major General Rustico Guerrero, PHIBLEX “has become not only  a venue for sharing talents but more into the development of a highly efficient potent force… especially for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.” “Exercises similar to PHIBLEX 13 would allow our Corps much needed training to excel in our competency in amphibious and rapid maneuver operations that would highly alleviate our maritime contingency capability,” Major General Guerrero added.

WAY AHEAD

Many people have speculated PHIBLEX 13 to be related to issues on territorial disputes. For the Philippine  Marine Corps, with or without issues,  it is well understood that the Filipino Marines are mandated to establish its capacity as a maritime contigency option in upholding the country’s  sovereignty  and preserving its territorial integrity. Bilateral trainings like PHIBLEX13 are  tool to establish its foundation as a maritime contingency force in readiness – the best option that the PMC could offer to the Filipino people in any maritime security scenario and territorial defense situation.