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Macarascas Elementary School receives aide

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anne Henry | Lt. Col. Renato L. Aguila works with patients at a dental civil affairs project during...... read more read more

CROW VALLEY, PHILIPPINES

10.10.2012

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force

MACARASCAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Puerto Princesa, Republic of the Philippines - U.S. and Philippine Forces worked hand-in-hand Oct. 10 at Macarascas Elementary School to provide medical and dental care to local community members as part of the Philippine-U.S. bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013 on the island of Palawan.

PHIBLEX 2013 is a bilateral training exercise hosted annually in the Republic of the Philippines to enhance interoperability and readiness of Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Forces. The training is designed to prepare both countries’ military forces for humanitarian service missions as well as strengthen bilateral ties. The aid projects during the exercise range from the construction of buildings to medical and dental care.

For the humanitarian aid portion of the exercise, Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct bilateral medical and dental civil affairs projects with their Filipino counterparts, providing medical assistance to the surrounding local communities.

“For the Macarascas project, we have six providers and (we) will be here for two days. We can treat anything from upper respiratory infections to toothaches,” said Navy Lt. Zachary M. Smith, the medical planner with the 31st MEU. “We have all of our patients registered here and are working hard to augment with the local care already provided.”

After registering with the clinic, patients were referred to medical personnel to have their vitals taken and answer a series of questions regarding their symptoms. Once their ailments were documented, they were sent to health care providers to conduct a final diagnosis and obtain the necessary medications.

Simultaneously, others patients were being processed and treated for dental concerns. Depending on the level of severity, some patients even had tooth extractions.

“This care is essential for the local people here,” said Navy Lt. Maria Sanchez, the dental officer with the 31st MEU. “Having good dental hygiene leads to having a healthier body, which will greatly benefit them in the long run. I love working here side-by-side with the Philippine forces.”

During the course of the projects, Brig. Gen. Craig Q. Timberlake, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Commodore Joseph Rustom O. Pena, Naval Forces West Commander, and Brig. Gen. Remigio C. Valdez, deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps visited the sites together to interact with the local people as well as oversee the care being provided.

“I want what we do today to make us better tomorrow, we will increase interoperability, we will increase friendships and we will become stronger allies,” said Timberlake. “There is a great spirit of cooperation here. This project is something that will greatly affect the next generation.”

The medical programs provided were critical to the local Filipino population, allowing them access to needed medical and dental care. U.S. Marines and Sailors, members of all services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and local Barangay medical workers all joined together to strengthen their relationship, train together and provide services to the local communities.