The Philippine Territory

MANILA - (UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.) Starting September 18, some 2,300 American and Filipino soldiers will participate in a three-week bilateral air-ground and amphibious “interoperability” training under "Phiblex 14.”

Phiblex, which stands for Philippines-United States Amphibious Landing Exercises, includes a staff planning exercise, the Philippine Navy said Monday. The staff planning exercise will increase the capability to conduct bilateral maritime security and territorial defense operations.

The exercises will be held in five military camps in Luzon.

1Lt. Vince Edward Salmingo, designated information officer for Phiblex 14, said the bilateral exercises would be conducted at the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales; the Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac; The Marine Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite; the Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Metro Manila; and at the Basa Airbase and Clark Field in Pampanga.

Participating American servicemen would be coming from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade from the United States Marine Corps.

“US forces will be paired with the joint Philippine Navy, Air Force, and Army units on a subject matter expertise exchange activities,” Salmingo said.

Phiblex is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and enhance the ability to respond to natural disasters or other regional contingencies. It also enhances local infrastructure and quality of life and build upon vibrant professional and personal relationships between Philippine and US Marines. 

Specifically, the field training exercises is aimed to provide the Philippine and US Marine units an opportunity to maintain their unit skill sets while sharing best practices.

Salmingo said civic actions will be conducted at identified barangays of Legaspi City, Albay. This will be jointly undertaken by the US Forces and the host unit, the Naval Forces Southern Luzon.

Manila and Washington have just finished their second round of talks in the US to craft a framework agreement for increased rotation of American forces in the country.

Both panels intend to wrap up the negotiation during the third and last round of talks, which according to a source will be held in Manila.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/69886/philippines-to-host-3-week-interoperability-training-with-thousands-of-us-marines