U.S. Airmen with 18th Civil Engineering Squadron, U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, and Philippine Army soldiers with 513th Engineer Construction Battalion build a school building during Exercise Balikatan 18 at Alibagu Elementary School, Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines, Apr. 18, 2018. Balikatan 18 is an annual exercise that focuses on the U.S.-Philippine partnership and commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Scott P. Smolinski/Released)
TAPAZ, Philippines - The Combined-Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force on the island of Panay celebrated the completion of two new classrooms with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Don Joaquin Artuz Memorial Elementary School in Tapaz, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 27.
The ceremony was attended by over 100 people and a number of military and local civic leaders including the Honorable Victor A. Tanco Sr., governor of Capiz Province; The Honorable Rosemarie F. Gardose, mayor of Tapaz Municipality; Dr. Miguel Mack Aposin, Capiz division superintended for the department of education; Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez, Balikatan 2015 exercise director; U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Bret Muilenburg, commander,...