AFP, US FORCES BREAK GROUND ON PALAWAN SCHOOL, AHEAD OF BALIKATAN EXERCISES

Three weeks before the start of Exercise Balikatan, Filipino and US troops broke ground for a two-classroom building in El Nido, Palawan, on March 27.

The project aims to address classroom shortages in the town and improve learning conditions for students.

The ceremony took place at one of the exercise areas for the 41st iteration of Balikatan, which begins on April 20.

Under the Humanitarian and Civic Assistance program, the initiative highlights the alliance’s “soft power” by linking defense cooperation with community development.

AFP officials said the classroom construction is just the start of civil-military projects this year, as the exercises, including Japan’s first combat participation, will proceed at full scale despite global conflicts.

Source: PhilNews24 | March 29, 2026