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U.S. Navy Seabees, Local Residents Build School Together

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091117-07
Release Date: 11/17/2009 10:48:00 AM

By Lt.j.g. Theresa Donnelly, Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines Public Affairs

LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines (NNS) -- Service members from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, assigned to Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, are in the final stages of building classrooms at the Lanao Agricultural College with the help of local contractors and school officials.

"It is a wonderful feeling we can assist the community and help build the school. It has been an honor to work with the local contractors and the school superintendent to make this project happen," said Construction Electrician 1st Class Michael Kelley from New Castle, Pa., the project supervisor.

The JSOTF-P Seabees are working side-by-side with the community, as two local electrical engineers and two staff members are also working on the project. Additionally, the school donated building supplies.

Reconstruction began last June for the two-building project, which includes the college's main 5,800 square-foot building and a 1,000 square-foot science building. The team is currently working on dividing the main building into six classrooms and constructing a separate bathroom facility.

The project also includes a septic system, electrical power distribution, lighting, fans, and a generator.

"We are very happy our people are working together on this school with the U.S. forces. Our people will greatly benefit from this project," said Jasmine B. Asum, high school instructor.

Based out of Gulfport, Miss., NMCB 1 Seabees arrived in August and relieved NMCB 40, to continue building the school.

Working 12-hour shifts, six days per week, crews are working nonstop to finish the project. Plans are in place to celebrate the opening of the buildings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"The crew here and local contractors working on this project have been absolutely phenomenal. They have such pride in their work and we constantly hear from the school officials what a great job they are doing," said a U.S. Army Special Forces officer in charge for the Marawi area.