By Nimfa L. Estrellado A young boy is assisted by a military medic during a medical checkup conducted by Philippine and U.S. personnel in Ba...
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| A young boy is assisted by a military medic during a medical checkup conducted by Philippine and U.S. personnel in Barangay Villa Reyes, Quezon as part of Balikatan 2026. (Exercise Balikatan) |
SAN NARCISO, Quezon - Balikatan 2026 is expanding its scope by combining joint military training with community-focused activities across several regions in the country. Efforts in Quezon show how the exercise supports residents through outreach while broader drills continue in other operational areas.
In Barangay Villa Reyes, San Narciso, troops carried out community projects aimed at supporting residents while joint military exercises continued in different operational areas. The engagements brought services directly to the community while strengthening coordination between participating forces during the exercise.
The joint activities opened with a groundbreaking ceremony for a two-classroom school building at Villa Reyes Elementary School led by military engineers from both countries. The project supports long-term learning needs by providing students with a more comfortable and functional classroom space.
Engineers from the Philippine Army and the U.S. Air Force worked together to carry out the construction effort through coordinated field work in the area. Their work combined skills and resources from both sides while delivering a project that directly benefits residents.
Medical teams conducted a Community Health Engagement and Medical-Dental Mission over two days to provide basic services to residents in the barangay. AFP reservist doctors and dentists joined U.S. counterparts in delivering consultations, dental care, and free medicines to around 300 residents.
Residents moved through different service stations set up during the activity to receive care and assistance from participating personnel. The setup kept patient flow organized while allowing services to be delivered efficiently throughout the two-day mission.
Residents also joined health education sessions and demonstrations that introduced simple life-saving skills during the outreach in the area. These included CPR demonstrations and first aid awareness sessions conducted by joint personnel assigned to the mission.
Members of the Local Emergency Response Team and barangay tanods underwent hands-on training on emergency response and first aid led by participating forces. The training strengthened preparedness while improving how responders handle emergencies and disasters within their community.
Personnel also conducted a gift-giving activity to support Villa Reyes Elementary School through donated equipment for classroom and school use. The donation included laptops, a television, and a public address system to support classroom learning and school communication.
The activities in Quezon took place alongside larger field training events under Balikatan 2026 happening in other parts of the country. The exercise brings together community support and military training involving several participating forces across multiple locations.
Balikatan 2026 involves around 17,000 troops from the Philippines and the United States, with additional participation from allied nations including Japan. The exercise includes joint operations on land, at sea, and in the air to strengthen coordination and improve overall defense readiness.
Beyond activities in Quezon, Balikatan 2026 also includes large-scale combat and maritime exercises involving allied forces across the region. One key activity is a joint maritime strike that brings together air, land, and sea units to engage a target vessel during a ship-sinking exercise.
The Philippines, United States, and Japan will sink the decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel BRP Quezon (PS-70) in a “sinkex,” or ship-sinking exercise, as part of a joint maritime strike activity. The vessel, originally built for the U.S. Navy during World War II and transferred to the Philippines in 1967, was decommissioned in 2021 as part of modernization efforts.
The drill will involve missiles from naval ships, bombs dropped by aircraft, and ground-based systems hitting the target vessel off the coast of northern Philippines. The exercise area was selected to allow longer-range engagement and ensure enough sea depth for the vessel to settle safely after sinking.
Balikatan spokesperson Marine Col. Dennis Fernandez said the exercise will allow forces to assess how different weapons systems perform during coordinated strikes. He added that the activity will help develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for coastal defense and joint operations.
“This is a combination of air, land, and maritime assets sinking the target vessel, we will evaluate how the vessel sinks, and from that we develop techniques, tactics, and procedures.” he said.
Japan’s participation marks a significant development in the exercise following the implementation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement. Japanese forces are expected to deploy ground-based anti-ship missile systems, including those with ranges of up to around 100 kilometers, during the activity.
Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) commander Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. said the initiatives in Quezon show how the annual exercise extends beyond military training and supports communities. He said the activities reflect how both forces continue to work together in both defense and community assistance efforts.
“From building classrooms to delivering healthcare and supporting education, these initiatives demonstrate how our forces work shoulder-to-shoulder not only in defense but also in uplifting communities,” Balaoro said.
The activities in Quezon province highlighted the continuing partnership between the Philippines and the United States through joint engagements. They also showed a shared commitment to supporting communities while carrying out defense cooperation under Balikatan 2026.
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