CASIGURAN, Philippines – Situated 320 kilometers (199 mi) from the capital of Manila on the lush, eastern coast of the island of Luzon lies Casiguran, a municipality in the province of Aurora, which is home to approximately 24,000 people. It is the most urbanized town among the northern municipalities of Aurora, and an important economic lynchpin for the region.
However, as important as Casiguran is to the region, it is remarkably remote, with only two routes into the province – routes which could be easily cut off by a landslide, earthquake or typhoon.
That is why the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in conjunction with U.S. Forces, conducted a simulation of relief operations as part of Balikatan 2017, an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counterterrorism.
The situation during the simulated operations this year was that Casiguran was struck by a super typhoon akin to Super Typhoon Yolanda, one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, with no way to deliver relief to residents but by air and sea.
The scenario, which included bilateral health engagements and HADR missions from the sea, took place in the Barangay Dibacong district in Casiguran, one of four exercise areas along the northern and eastern coast of Luzon. These locations provided fitting training sites for the Balikatan disaster response exercises because they frequently experience typhoons and other natural calamities.
Casiguran's scenario was attended by both senior Philippine and U.S. military officials, such as Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla and U.S. Marines Brig. Gen. John Jansen, Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
“Sometimes bringing relief from the sea is not the only way to save lives, but the best way to save lives,” said Jansen who was on hand to observe the disaster relief resupply effort at Motiong Beach.
Philippine and U.S. forces conducted extensive planning and months of intensified engagements through bilateral planning conferences. The exercise planning also included local authorities and agencies involved in the execution of civil military activities from the sea.
One of the aims of the exercise is to provide support to the communities devastated by typhoons through health education and first responder bilateral subject matter exchange events in order to increase the readiness of AFP, local government units, local populations, and other participating government agencies and civil volunteers.
"Bilateral training efforts … bring value of critical importance by increasing the speed of response to the people of the Philippines, thereby saving lives and reducing human suffering in the event of disasters brought about by super typhoons and earthquakes," Jansen said.
Part of that training included residents being taught expedient water collection and purification, health and safety management, and other HADR topics essential during disasters.
By training for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, U.S. and Philippine forces are better prepared to provide relief from the sea to remote and austere areas of the Philippines.
"As we continue to build our capabilities together during this exercise, we look forward to continuing the legacy of friendship and trust between our two militaries as we prepare to combat Mother Nature's storms," Jansen added in closing.