PH, US troops build jungle obstacle course in Ilocos Norte

AMERICAN and Filipino troops built a jungle obstacle course at a military facility in Ilocos Norte, one of the training venues of the ongoing “Kamandag” exercise between the two sides.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr, who led the opening of the obstacle course, said the facility at Camp Bojeador in Burgos town “is a symbol of our cooperation and collaboration.”

“Let us continue to work hard towards achieving our goal of reaching a certain level of excellence where we can work, collaborate, cooperate, and operate together,” he said.

The obstacle course was built as part of Kamandag, or “Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat,” a military exercise meant to promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Some 2,600 US and Filipino troops are involved in the exercise. Also, 107 Japanese and South Korean troops have been invited to participate in the exercise. The United Kingdom has sent eight military personnel to observe the exercise.

The exercise is being conducted in various training sites in Luzon and Mindanao. It opened on Thursday last week and will end on November 20.

Brawner said the obstacle course will be used by US and Filipino troops “to prepare ourselves physically and make ourselves stronger.”

“But the symbolism of this is both countries working together to build something,” said Brawner.

“It could be an obstacle course today, it could be something bigger in the future. What is important is the established relationship between our armed forces, not just United States and the Philippines, but we have here Japan and the United Kingdom,” he said.

Brawner was also at Camp Bojeador to witness the capability demonstration of aircraft and artillery assets as part of the ongoing Dagat, Langit at Lupa (DAGITPA) exercise among Philippine Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel.

The 12-day DAGITPA exercise opened on Monday last week, involving 1,500 troops. It is being held in various training areas in northern Luzon.