Collaborative Efforts Results in New Facilities, Road in Southern Philippines

A new birthing clinic, elementary school, and a road are among the most recent projects to be completed in the southern Philippines through the cooperative efforts of Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and local officials.

On Jan. 14, the school, which will accommodate 250 students, and the road in Sulu province were turned over during a ceremony. The school was constructed primarily by U.S. Navy civil engineers (Seabees) with security provided by AFP Marines. The five-kilometer road was build by local contractors with funding from JSOTF-P.

A birthing center was dedicated in Zamboanga City, also on Jan. 14. The four-room facility will provide low-cost prenatal and postpartum care. The clinic is also designed to accommodate normal deliveries and provide immunizations for young children. Mein College, which is managing the clinic, has a long history of partnership with the AFP and JSOTF-P. “The opening of this clinic will be a huge benefit for the people and families using this facility. But, it is also a victory in Zamboanga in that it represents what is possible when responsible citizens and organizations collaborate for the good of the community,” said JSOTF-P’s Chief of Staff Air Force Lt. Col. David Smith.

A variety of community ogranizations provided support during the two-year development of the birthing center, including the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command, Naval Forces Western Mindanao, and JSOTF-P.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, JSOTF-P provides support to the AFP in several areas, including enhancing the AFP’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance to terrorist-inflicted communities, and through tactical training programs.For the latest updates on JSOTF-P and it’s collaboration with AFP, follow the command on Twitter, or on its website.

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Service Members Brighten Spirits of Philippine Children

Twenty members of Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) spent a holiday evening visiting children at the Social Development Center in Zamboanga City Dec. 23.

As explained in a Manila Bulletin story, JSOTF-P volunteers started the evening playing games and singing Christmas carols with the nearly 60 children at the center. Later, the children received Christmas stockings and ate popcorn while watching movies. When the movies ended, the kids were led upstairs so they could see for the first time new bedding that had been donated by members of the task force.

In addition to this visit, over the past few months approximately 100 JSOTF-P volunteers have helped with painting the boys' and girls' rooms. At the time, volunteers noted that the children also needed new bedding, mattresses and draperies. From that point, a collection was taken and dozens of JSOTF-P service members contributed to a fund which paid for new bedding and drapes, courtesy of the Western Mindanao Command tailor.

Founded in 1994, the center serves as a residential facility for children who are abandoned, neglected, orphaned or abused. The children there receive personal care and rehabilitative services with the hopes that they will eventually be reintegrated back to their families and communities.

To learn more about JSOTF-P, visit the command’s website.

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JSOTF-P Provides Assistance through Veterinary Care in Southern Philippines

A team from Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) partnered with the only two veterinarians in Lanao Del Sur province on the island of Mindanao to provide instruction and treatment for livestock and pets earlier this week.

As explained in a JSOTF-P news story, local residents, leaders from the district and instructors from the local college attended a workshop that taught individuals how to treat sick animals and strategies for preventing diseases.

Information from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences was distributed explaining what to do in cases of suspected avian influenza in poultry.

The following day, in addition to some pets, local residents brought cows, horses, goats and roosters for deworming medication, vitamins and rabies vaccinations.

The livelihood of the community is affected by the health of its animals, which contribute staples such as milk and meat.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, JSOTF-P provides support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in several areas, including enhancing the AFP’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance to terrorist-inflicted communities, through tactical training programs, and the sharing of information.

To learn more and to keep up with the work taking place in the southern Philippines, visit the JSOTF-P website.

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AFP, JSOTF-P Supports Community Development with Health Care

More than 800 local men, women and children in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines received basic medical care and other services last week.

The project was as part an ongoing initiative led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) -- with assistance from Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P), local officials, and community volunteers -- to provide assistance to the people of Mindanao.

A JSOTF-P news story explains that this project in Lanao del Norte province included a particularly strong volunteer turnout from the region, in addition to AFP and JSOTF-P doctors, nurses, and dentists.

JSOTF-P, in a strictly non-combat role, has been assisting the AFP build its capacity to eliminate terrorist safe havens since 2002. A key to this is creating conditions that make terrorist elements unwelcome, or prevent their resurgence.

Health care and health education projects are just one dimension of this ongoing focus. For instance, since January 2008, the AFP and JSOTF-P have partnered with a variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide free, basic medical & dental care to more than 20,000 patients.

JSOTF-P is comprised of 500-600 personnel from all four military services temporarily deployed to the Philippines at the request of the Philippine Government.

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English Education Workshop Part of Comprehensive Approach to Philippines Counter-terror Effort

A recent Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-sponsored English education workshop in the Southern Philippines is an example of a continuing focus on increasing opportunities for those in areas traditionally affected by violent extremism.

A Philippine Information Agency news release explains the English program, designed to support a Philippines initiative to strengthen English as a second language in the nation’s education system.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, approximately 600 U.S. service members are deployed to the Southern Philippines in an advisory role in support of the Philippines’ effort to eliminate terrorist safe-havens by increasing the capacity of the AFP, and through civic and humanitarian projects in coordination with other U.S. and Philippine Government agencies.

During his May 30 remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue Asia security summit in Singapore, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stressed the value of a defense strategy that places ever greater emphasis on capacity building and a mix of so-called “hard” and “soft” elements of national power – where military, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and humanitarian elements are integrated seamlessly.

The Pacific Command (PACOM) Strategy links PACOM activities and operations, such as those conducted in the Philippines and throughout Asia-Pacific, to U.S. Government policy and the strategic objectives outlined by Secretary Gates.

Secretary Gates visited the Philippines June 1, following the Shangri-La Dialogue, and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting the Philippines’ efforts to defeat terrorists and extremists.

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JSOTF-P Supports AFP Counter-terrorism Efforts

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and members of the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P) are focusing on supporting the efforts of the AFP to root out terrorist safe havens in the Southern Philippines, as highlighted by Pacific Stars and Stripes.

JSOTF-P comprises approximately 600 U.S. service members who work as a non-combatant advisory group to the Philippine armed forces in their effort to eliminate terrorism in their country. The task force uses subject matter expert exchanges to help increase the capacity of the Philippine armed forces.

The task force also focuses on providing humanitarian assistance to Filipino communities. In 2008, JSOTF-P assisted in more than 70 civic action projects in the country.

Partnership between JSOTF-P and the AFP has helped to improve the capability of the AFP as well as helped to improve the lives of the local Filipino community in which they work.

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Regional Disaster Relief Exercise Brings Nations Together for Common Good

More than 20 Asia-Pacific nations will take part in a four-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) disaster relief exercise May 4-8 in Central Luzon, Philippines.

The civilian-led, military supported ARF Voluntary Demonstration of Response (ARF-VDR) is co-sponsored by the Republic of the Philippines and the U.S. Of the 20 countries taking part, 12 will provide equipment and personnel, according to the Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council. Delegates are scheduled to attend from a variety of Southeast Asia nation, as well as others from throughout Asia-Pacific and the European Union.

The ARF-VDR is designed to display ARF nations’ civil and military disaster response capabilities.

As announced by the U.S. Department of State, following a hypothetical super-typhoon, participating countries will offer assistance in response to a Philippine Government request for international humanitarian relief. Areas of demonstration include land, air and maritime search and rescue, medical assistance/evacuation and engineering reconstruction.

Joint civil-military projects, to which a small number of U.S. service members will contribute support, include reconstruction of a school building, construction of a bridge, installation of a water system and medical services for approximately 8,000 Filipinos in the Central Luzon area.

The ARF-VDR is a strong example of international cooperation between a variety of nations and agencies to enhance and develop capabilities that can benefit the entire region – an ideal shared and fostered by U.S. Pacific Command.

Keep up with the ARF-VDR on the Philippine Information Agency’s page for the event, as well as the Asia-Pacific Area Network (APAN) ARF-VDR site.

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Latest Development Projects Complete in Sulu, Philippines

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers, along with US military personnel, turned over four recently completed development projects Mar. 5 to the people who reside in and around Jolo, Sulu in the southern Philippines. The Philippine Information Agency provided details of the ceremony.

The four projects included two roads to improve commerce transport and two deep wells for better access to water. Ongoing development projects, which are lead by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the AFP, are designed to help improve the lives of the local population by providing the infrastructure required to build a better future. Infrastructure improvements help lead to improved security, stability, and prosperity.

U.S. military personnel are in the Philippines at the request of the GRP and provide direct support to the AFP with development projects to counter the influence of terrorists and other violent extremists.

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) routinely provides support to its friends and alllies in the struggle against violent extremism throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Through military-to-military exchanges or working with both government and non-government organizations, PACOM takes a "whole-of-government" approach to leverage all instruments of national power to enhance security and protect our collective interests.

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School Project on Mindanao Completed by Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines

An elementary school construction project in the Philippines was completed and turned over to local officials Jan. 28 as part of ongoing efforts by U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) to help improve quality of life on the island of Mindanao.

A Philippine Information Agency news release provides the details.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, JSOTF-P supports the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its ongoing counter-terrorism effort. Key to this support is a number of humanitarian initiatives conducted in consultation with U.S. Embassy Manila, AFP officials and local civilian leaders in terrorist-afflicted communities. Various bilateral humanitarian improvement programs, such as medical and engineering projects, are ongoing at any one time as part of the JSOTF-P mission.

Helping to build the infrastructure that supports opportunity for a better future, JSOTF P will continue to work with the AFP and assist wherever they are needed. The JSOTF-P mission and its associated activities are fully integrated into the overall U.S. effort to support the government of the Philippines and its people.

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U.S. Support to the Government of the Philippines to Continue

The Business World Online highlights an interview conducted recently with the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie A. Kenney, regarding U.S. support to the Philippines.

The article notes that U.S. support such as U.S. military rotations to Mindinao, which have been ongoing at the request of the Government of the Philippines in support of its fight against terrorist organizations, is expected to continue. There are still no intentions to permanently base U.S. forces anywhere in the Philippines.

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Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines, a Comprehensive Overview

The next edition of the magazine The Weekly Standard includes an article (available online now) written by Max Boot and Richard Bennet that provides an overview of the ongoing work of the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P) .

At the request of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), U.S. military personnel routinely deploy to the Philippines to provide support to its efforts to defeat violent extremists. The approximately 600 men and women of JSOTF-P provide direct support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in areas that include information sharing, tactical training programs, and help with providing humanitarian assistance.

JSOTF-P activities are part of an interagency approach that requires close coordination, integration, and unity of effort within the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. State Department, and other agencies. The Weekly Standard article also notes that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is active in the southern Philippines. This “whole-of-government” approach has been the key to providing effective support to the GRP in its efforts to counter violent extremists.

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