Pioduran Road Construction Makes Great Progress During Balakatan 09
By Lance Cpl. Antwain J. GrahamALBAY PROVINCE, Republic of the Philippines (April 23, 2009) � Philippine soldiers with 565 Construction Engineer Battalion (565 CEB), Philippine Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadrons 171 and 172 (MWSS-171 and MWSS-172) continued the construction of a new road in Pioduran here, during Balikatan 2009.
It�s been nearly three weeks since the start of the bilateral forces humanitarian project, and the workers are ahead of schedule with more than 70 percent of the road completed, according to Dante R. Arandia, the municipal mayor of Pioduran.
�Together, the service members are making great progress and the road is coming along very nicely,� Arandia said.
Arandia also said that at the current rate of the construction, the community can expect the road�s completion within a few weeks. He said the road will benefit more than 50,000 local citizens of Pioduran, including fisherman and farmers of the community.
With farmers and fisherman utilizing this new road to transport food and supplies, this project will ultimately increase the prosperity of the community.
Since the project began, the local residents of Pioduran have taken kindly to the Marines presence.
�When I see the U.S. military here, I am very appreciative because I know they are here to help our community,� said Reynaldo Sueves, a local citizen of Pioduran.
The project has also allowed the Filipino soldiers and the U.S. Marines to bond.
�Working on Balikatan with the American forces is a great opportunity for me because they are such diligent workers and they make the experience a pleasure,� said Sgt. Amel P. Basamta, an engineer with 565 CEB, Philippine Army, AFP.
For U.S. Marine Cpl. Nick Cowden, an engineer with Combat Engineering Platoon, MWSS-172, the opportunity was a learning experience.
�Outside of working on the road, they (AFP) have taught us a lot about their culture and have shown us tips on how to maneuver through this environment,� Cowden said. �It�s just been an awesome ride.�
Balikatan 2009 is a bilateral humanitarian assistance and training activity that promotes unity and readiness between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States. In the Bicol region, Philippine and U.S. military forces are constructing two wells and repairing two schools and two roads as part of Balikatan 2009. They will also conduct free medical, dental, and veterinary clinics in the Bicol region. Efforts like this help ensure humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are efficient and effective. Balikatan is a Tagalog word that means �shoulder-to-shoulder� and characterizes the philosophy and intent behind the mission.
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