USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and the third United States Navy ship of that name.Bonhomme Richard is currently homeported in Sasebo, Japan.
The carrier is currently docked in Subic Bay participating for this year’s RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013.
Photo by Malou Dungog
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2013 formally opened in this former United States facility now a Freeport zone, which signals another year of great friendship and cooperation between the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the U.S.
American and Filipino sailors and marines, as well as members of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force participating in this year’s PHIBLEX gathered at the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard for the opening ceremony marking the formal star of the exercise.
BGen Remigio Valex, Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Commandant representing Philippine Marine Corps Commandant MGen Rustico O. Guererro, thanked all the organizations, units and individuals who made PHILEX 2013 possible.
“Your concerted effort brought us together today to witness the opening of an undertaking which will bring our organizations to a higher level of interoperable capability and capacity,” he said.
“The outcome of the rigorous planning will be executed in the coming days. I encourage all participants to maximize their involvement and their learning experiences always remembering that PHIBLEX 2013 is an opportunity, venue where an exchange of professional expertise and technological advancement is at the heart of its goal,” Valdez added.
US Deputy Chief of Mission Brian L. Goldbeck said, the Philippines is a longstanding treaty ally of the US.
“Today, our nations stand together in a partnership to make the Pacific region more secure and prosperous. Our militaries regularly engage in bilateral training toward our common goal of regional security and readiness.”
“This 29th iteration of PHIBLEX reinforces our long-time partnership and demonstrates the U.S. and Philippines’ commitment to mutual security.” Goldbeck said.
Considering the massive effects of natural calamities that frequent the Philippines and the Asia Pacific Region year in and out, PHIBLEX 13 is designed to enhance interoperability on disaster response and relief operations.
“This year’s PHIBLEX will feature numerous Medical and Engineering Civic Action Projects.
These projects provide our young men and women a chance to make positive contributions to the local community, by providing much needed services to remote areas.
This exercise will also include a Staff Exercise, designed to increase our ability and readiness to function as a team in the case of a humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenario – a scenario we are likely to face,” he added.
The said bilateral exercise also aims to formulate and assess concepts for the enhancement of the amphibious operations capacity of both nations.
Furthermore, it also envisions evaluating concepts for transition from Unilateral Defense Plan (UDP) to Bilateral Defense Plan (BDP) to Post-Conflict response, through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.
These will materialize through the Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) and Medical Action Program (MEDCAP) activities which will be conducted in Zambales and Palawan.
Thousands of local residents will benefit from the MEDCAP and a total of four barangays in Palawan and Zambales will benefit from the ENCAP.
Combined engineering personnel have already been deployed to the ENCAP sites to begin with the construction of classrooms and toilets.
Additionally, the vigorous relation between the military and the civilian community will be brought to greater heights as community relations activities are conducted.
On the other hand, various military training activities will be held simultaneously in different venues including the establishment of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief Command and Control Center at Subic Bay International Airport; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim in Cavite; a helicopter raid exercise and combined live fire exercise at Crow Valley in Tarlac; a medical capacity building events and engineering projects at Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon in Puerto Princesa City; and Naval Education Training Command in Zambales.
