Assistance will likely be given to fishermen who will likely be affected by the conduct of Balikatan workouts of Filipino and United States troops, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated on Wednesday.
Balikatan Exercise government agent for the Philippines Colonel Michael Logico stated the navy already coordinated with the provincial authorities concerning the two-day exercise in Zambales.
“They will be distributing this for the fishermen that will be affected by the two-day activity,” Logico advised reporters.
AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar stated the Balikatan exercise in Zambales on April 26 will solely final for a couple of hours.
“We will make sure that no one will be harmed or hurt during the exercise. And we are also making sure appropriate assistance will be provided to them,” he stated in an interview on ANC.
Aguilar added that each one essential preparations and precautions are already in place.
On Tuesday, the Philippines and the United States kicked off their greatest Balikatan navy train which goals to develop interoperability between the 2 international locations and enhance functionality.
Logico earlier stated will probably be the primary time Philippine and US forces will interact in live-fire workouts at sea. The coaching will embrace mixed joint littoral reside fireplace train in Zambales.
The troops will sink an outdated Philippine Navy vessel.
“That is an old Navy vessel that we acquired through US grant in 1953 and this is a ship that has already served with the Philippine Navy,” Logico stated.
“Now it will serve its final duty by contributing to our capability so to speak and this is the perfect way for us to, a perfect send off for a man of war,” he added.
In an announcement, fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA vice chairperson for Luzon Bobby Roldan stated the workouts won’t solely have an effect on the livelihood of fishermen however will even pose a menace to the nation.
“First of all, the immediate impact of a day without fishing for the fishers and their families cannot be equated to whatever benefit that may be gained from Balikatan,” he stated.
“The concerns of many sectors and patriotic individuals are legitimate that the Philippines might be caught in the crossfire of the power struggle between the U.S. and China,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
