Military personnel from the Philippines and the United States on Friday formally turned over a one-story, two-classroom school building to the Villa Reyes Elementary School in San Narciso, Quezon Province.

In a statement on Friday night, the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) said the school building was constructed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Air Force as part of the humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) activities of the just-concluded Balikatan exercises.

“The project, completed in just 45 days, was built through the combined efforts of the 564th Engineer Construction Battalion of the Philippine Army and the 356th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron of the United States Air Force as part of the HCA activities of the annual ‘Balikatan’ exercises,” it added.

Turnover ceremonies were led by Solcom chief Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. and San Narciso Mayor Florabelle Uy-Yap, along with other local government and U.S. Air Force officials.

Balaoro said Balikatan is not only about military cooperation but also about building lasting relationships with communities through projects that directly improve people’s lives.

This year’s Balikatan began on April 20 and formally ended on May 8, with some 17,000 troops from the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand participating in the series of drills.

“As part of the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Balaoro also conferred the ‘Parangal sa Kapanalig ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas’ award to the 356th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron of the United States Air Force and Hon. Florabelle Uy-Yap, Local Chief Executive of San Narciso, Quezon, in recognition of their invaluable support and partnership in the successful completion of the classroom project,” Solcom said.

Military awards were likewise awarded to Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel who contributed to the construction of these classrooms.

The newly turned over classrooms symbolize cooperation, friendship and a shared commitment to education between the Philippines and the United States. (PNA)