Manila, February 21, 2020 — U.S. and Philippine naval engineers celebrated on February 19 the opening of a new two-room classroom they built together in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“This project provides a much-needed schoolhouse for the Malatgao National Elementary School in Palawan, which will be utilized by over 120 students. We are proud to assist this community working hand-in-hand with our Filipino counterparts,” said U.S. Navy LT. Joshua Moore.
In the last four years, U.S. Navy engineers, known as Seabees, have completed 24 humanitarian projects across the Philippines. These projects include single- and double-room classrooms, water catchment systems, multipurpose school huts, and multipurpose communal buildings.
Joint construction operations such as these between the Philippine Navy Seabees, U.S. Navy Seabees, Philippine Marines, and local Barangays serve to strengthen the U.S.-Philippine partnership.
“I think working with U.S. troops will make our alliance stronger and continue to increase our bonds for years to come. This will help unify and grow our bilateral relationship,” said Apprentice Fireman Construction Electrician Joel Nioda from Zamboanga City.
Since October 2016, the U.S. Navy Seabees construction projects for Philippine communities are valued at more than PHP100,000,000 ($1.9 Million).