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Philippine, U.S. Naval Construction Forces Build Schoolhouse

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090420-09
Release Date: 4/20/2009 9:18:00 AM

By Marine Cpl. Heather Golden, 30th Naval Construction Regiment Public Affairs

GURUYAN BARANGAY, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- Seabees from the Republic of the Philippines and the United States are pressing forward with the plan to complete a school building in the next two weeks as part of Balikatan 09.

The unseasonable weather have added to the meaning of the Balikatan '09 'shoulder-to-shoulder' motto as it attempted to slow their progress on the Guruyan National High School.

Instead of letting bad weather delay progress, the two-country team adjusted their original plans of building from the ground up to instead getting the roof completed first, a suggestion offered up by the Philippine Seabees.

"We adapted to their strategies," said U.S. Navy Lt. Daniel Wall, officer-in-charge of Underwater Construction Team Two, the American unit assigned to the school project. "They (the Philippine Seabee unit) have built about 30 of these, and they shared their experiences."

"This is the essence of Balikatan… the sharing of ideas," added Philippine Navy Ensign Lorenzo Robredillo, officer-in-charge of vertical construction and the executive officer for Engineering Task Force Sorsogon. "We make the adjustments in order to foster more construction. By sharing ideas, we make sure to make the target date."

The modifications will protect the rest of the unfinished site from rain. Rainfall on drying concrete prevents the material from compacting properly and diminishes the structural integrity, Wall explained. A completed roof will allow the floor to set properly.
The U.S. Seabees recognized another benefit to the Philippine system, especially in a sub-tropic environment they are not native to.

"We'll have faster progress doing it this way," said Builder 1st Class Scott Koorndyke, project supervisor for the schoolhouse. "It's so hot here, and it rains a lot. Constructing it this way, we have shelter too."

The roof is being constructed simultaneously with the walls, which also allows for faster overall work, Koorndyke said. U.S. forces will leave the area by April 30, the official end of Balikatan 2009.

The faster the schoolhouse's progress, the more likely the crew is to hit the completion date. They had approximately 30 days to complete the project, rain or shine, Robredillo said.

But for now, the two teams are busy enjoying their remaining days working together. The Republic of the Philippines and the United States are the only two countries with a construction force in their navies.

"We have a good understanding with the U.S. Navy Seabees," Robredillo said. "We get together a lot and share fun, share food. There are only two types of Seabees in the world, U.S. and Filipino. That's why we are very close."

The finished schoolhouse will be able to accommodate approximately 75 students, said Joebert Dugan, a Barangay official who routinely stops by to check on progress.

The new school will further this community's social progress by providing a more localized place for students to learn. The current closest high school is located more than 12 kilometers away from the community. A larger and closer school will also ensure more of the population's youth attend classes and gain an education, he said.

Balikatan 2009 is a bilateral humanitarian assistance and training activity that promotes unity and readiness between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States. In the Bicol region, Philippine and U.S. military forces are constructing two water wells and building two schools and constructing two roads as part of Balikatan 2009. They will also conduct free medical, dental and veterinary clinics in the Bicol region. Efforts like this help ensure humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are efficient and effective. Balikatan is a Tagalog word that means "shoulder-to-shoulder" and characterizes the philosophy and intent behind the mission.