Operation PACANGEL starts on high note

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ally Day
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines --   "Let's get ready to rumble," said Philippine Army Col. Arthur Ang, 901st Brigade commander and co-chairman of the Joint Inter Agency Task Force Pacific Angel-Philippines as he concluded his opening speech this morning to PACANGEL participants here.

PACANGEL is a joint combined humanitarian operation scheduled to last six days. Approximately 99 U.S. military forces have joined forces with participants from the Philippines, Cambodia and Tonga military forces as well as non-governmental agencies, numerous volunteers and Team Albay to provide medical, dental, optometry and engineering support.

"Disaster preparedness is very important in the province of Albay," said Philippine Air Force Lt. Col. Augusto Vincent Gaite, Tactical Operations Group 5 commander. "What we are doing here today promotes interoperability in a joint environment."

Participants supporting patient care will have their hands busy.

"There are two sites where patients will be seen; TOG 5 will be the primary site," said Gaite. "There will also be a mobile site for two days in Guinobatan and the site will next move to Sto. Domingo for three days. Medical teams at each site will see hundreds of patients per day."

One patient echoed the sentiments of most patients seen today.

"I heard about the mission for medical care from my community leader, " said Eugolio Lucila, 45, from Bañag Daraga. "I had headaches and difficulty reading, but could not afford to see a doctor. I'm very thankful to come here and get the care I need and to get the glasses too."

In addition to medical care, subject matter exchanges will take place too.

"This is not the first time that the U.S. and the Philippines have joined hands in humanitarian assistance here in the Philippines," said Ang. "We have countless success stories working together and there is no doubt in my mind that Pacific Angel-Bayanihan will be included."

Bayanihan in the Filipino language means helping each other to get a job done, said PO2 Milanie De Guzman, Philippine National Police public information non-commissioned officer.

Thirteenth Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam leads the U.S. military's participation in Pacific Angel-Philippines.