American troops joining this year’s Balikatan exercises are expected to arrive in the country today as Filipino troops kick off planning exercises designed to boost their ability to handle emergency situations.
A spokesman for Balikatan 2016 said “based on the plan, the mobilization of the American troops and the off-loading of their equipment for Balikatan 2016 will start today, on March 28.
He said they are following a timeline and they should be here today and the proceeding weeks.
Balikatan 2016, a major event that highlights the longstanding alliance of the Philippines and the US, will be held from April 4 to 15.
The exercise, however, kicked off quietly last march 16 with the launching of construction and medical activities in Panay and Palawan, the province nearest the South China Sea.