Engineers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, and a U.S. Navy Construction Civic Action Detail Philippines (CCAD-P or “SEABEES”) are working together to construct public buildings in three different Cebu communities that will benefit more than 1,300 school children, and 150 civilians.

The U.S. Pacific Command has invested more than PhP14 million ($330,000 USD) for the construction of a five-classroom building for Poog Elementary School in Toledo City; for a three-classroom building and comfort room at Aloguinsan Central Elementary School in Aloguinsan; and for the repair of living, cooking, laundry and educational facilities at a rehabilitation Center for the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 7 in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.The new classrooms are being built according to typhoon and earthquake-resistant design required by the Department of Education. These projects support the local economy though the purchase of building materials, lodging and food from local businesses.

CCAD Philippines is a unit of approximately 28 U.S. Navy Seabees and Sailors who have teamed up with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to complete humanitarian assistance construction in hard-to-access and disaster-affected areas in the Philippines. Through their joint projects, U.S. and Philippine engineers learn to work well together, and share expertise as they undertake active construction projects. This experience develops their joint capability to operate alongside one another and to rapidly respond when disasters strike. 

CCAD Philippines is here at the invitation of the Government of Philippines, and the projects underway were chosen through a joint process by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Navy’s 30th Naval Construction Regiment, the respective AFP Unified Command, and regional, city, and barangay offices.

CCAD Philippines has been working on the ground in Cebu since February 2014 to complete these and other projects, rotating units in and out every few months. CCAD Philippines goals are to increase teamwork between AFP and U.S. Navy military engineers; strengthen people to people ties between U.S. military, AFP and the Filipino people; and improve infrastructure for community education, health services, sanitation and disaster preparedness.