8ID participates in the largest Pacific mission for 2012

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – The 8^th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division (8ID), Philippine Army (PA) will participate in a humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) mission in selected communities of Samar Island from 18 June 2012 – 1 July 2012 dubbed as the “Pacific Partnership 2012.

            The Pacific Partnership is the largest annual HCA mission of the US Pacific Fleet in the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of the mission is to deliver basic services, strengthen alliances and ensure that the international community is better prepared to synchronize the delivery of foreign humanitarian aid in times of natural disaster or crisis.

            HCA activities such as medical & dental mission, veterinarian mission, engineering works, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges mainly on disaster preparedness/response and Damage Control will be done during the two-week duration of the mission.

            In his statement, BGen Gerardo T Layug AFP, Commander of 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army said, “The 8ID will work hand in hand with the US Armed Forces, partner nation military personnel, and the Local Government Units and Agencies of Samar through the concept of ‘Bayanihan’ in order to deliver much needed services in selected communities in the Province.”

            Aside from the AFP’s medical and dental teams, which will participate in the series of Medical Mission, the AFP will also deploy elements of 53^rd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army who will be joining the US Pacific 30^th Naval Construction Regiment in all engineering projects in the area.