By Priam Nepomuceno

CIVILIAN PROJECT. Personnel of the Philippine Air Force’s 355th Aviation Engineer Wing and US Marine Corps’ Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 are building a multi-purpose facility in Barangay Dagupan, Lal-lo, Cagayan on Thursday (April 3, 2025). This activity is part of the “Balikatan” exercise, which is slated to begin in late April and end in mid-May. (Photo courtesy of the 355th Aviation Engineer Wing)

MANILA – Engineering units of the Philippine and US militaries are constructing a multi-purpose facility for residents of Barangay Dagupan, Lal-lo, Cagayan as part of this year’s “Balikatan” exercises, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday.

Taking part are the Philippine Air Force’s 355th Aviation Engineer Wing and the US Marine Corps’ Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

“The construction started on March 24 and is expected to be completed on May 7. The ‘multi-purpose facility’ is one of the engineering civic action program sites for Exercise Balikatan 40-2025,” he added.

Balikatan 2025 is scheduled to begin in late April and end in mid-May.

“This initiative underscores the AFP’s commitment to strengthening its capabilities and fostering stronger partnerships with allied forces in support of regional security and community development,” Trinidad said. (PNA)