Remarks by Dr. Alberto G. Romulo 
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

at the Opening Ceremony of the RP-US Balikatan 2007 (BK 07)

Camp Aguinaldo , Quezon City , 19 February 2007  

Friends,  

At the outset we take note of President Bush’s speech last week at the American Enterprise Institute on the Global War on Terror, when he said:  

                        “I believe the best way to do our duty in securing the homeland is to stay on the offense. And we're not alone…  We're not in this fight against extremists and murderers alone.  

                    Recently in the Philippines , that country's special forces … killed two top leaders of the al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization -- a group that we believe was responsible for kidnapping four American citizens and killing two of them.”  

As the Chairman of the House Committee on Defense – Congressman Jose Solis commented earlier:  the special ties that bind the United States and the Philippines are stronger than ever.  

As we gather here today for the opening of the latest set of joint RP-US exercises known as the Balikatan, it is worthy to note how our partnership for peace and development has in recent years taken on a new dimension, consistent with the ever changing realities of the times.     

Throughout the years, our partnership has been a partnership for peace and security for our respective countries and regions.  

It has also been a partnership for development, for without development, it would not be possible to fully enjoy the blessings of peace and security.  

But while it was originally a partnership primarily intended as an alliance in the face of external threats, it has now taken on a new meaning.   

In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of what we call non-traditional security threats – from terrorism to transnational crimes, from pandemics to maritime piracy, from natural to man-made disasters.   

In light of these present realities, the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement of 1998 acquires special relevance.  For aside from being an implementing mechanism for the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, it serves as a legal framework for the conduct of all forms of joint exercises, including civic, medical and humanitarian missions.    

And this is the way it should be.  For in the war against terrorism and poverty, and in our common efforts to effectively address natural disasters and pandemics, the partnership between the Philippines and the United States continues to be broad-based and multi-faceted, covering fresh avenues for greater cooperation.            

This new dimension in our collaborative efforts is reflected by the fact that this year’s version of the Balikatan exercises will focus on civic-humanitarian missions and not military exercises.             

Specifically, US troops coming for Balikatan 07 will be performing such humanitarian works as dental, medical, veterinary and engineering projects, all of them to be carried out shoulder-to-shoulder with troops from the AFP.  

Both of our countries recognize that only a multi-dimensional approach -- to uplift the living conditions of those living in the poorest areas of the country – can win the hearts and minds of the people -- away from the empty promises of those who would use terrorism to destroy and promote their nefarious ends.  

In welcoming the US troops for the latest exercises in the province, Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong, praised, “the conduct of the Balikatan as paving the way for peace and a progressive Sulu.”  He added:  “the people are now reaping the fruits of these endeavors.  

The Governor’s words ring loud and true, for the benefits of the humanitarian missions under the Balikatan are self-evident:  

• More and more people - not just in Sulu but also in other places in Mindanao such as Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga and other places – have received water wells as well as medical attention and treatment including curing lingering ailments and sickness. 

• More and more people in the most remote areas of the South are getting access to information, including information from the Internet where before they had no such access.

• More and more residents in the country’s most undeveloped areas are now able to travel to other places at a faster pace due to road improvements brought about by the engineering projects of these exercises.

• More and more young people go to schools because of the classroom and school buildings constructed during the exercises.

U.S. and Philippine officials, visiting these sites, have commended the success of these civic-humanitarian missions.   

They recognized that this soft approach can be used as a model in fighting terrorism worldwide.   

For in the Philippines , there is something quite unique in the world: the local populations, both Christian and Muslim, join together in welcoming with open arms the arrival of U.S. forces.  

In fact, it is interesting how, at the start of this new decade,  the focus of these civic and humanitarian projects was in Luzon .  Medical Civic Action Projects and classroom building activities were undertaken in provinces such as in Quezon, in Laguna and in Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon .  Balikatan exercises in Mindanao then centered on military exercises such as training missions designed to enhance interoperability between both Armed Forces.  

But by the middle of the decade, the focus of the civic humanitarian component of Balikatan was shifted to the most underprivileged parts of Mindanao .   

Thus, the USNS Mercy conducted a medical mission in Mindanao from May to June 2006.   

Classrooms, bridges and roads as well as water systems were built in places such as Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo.   

And during the anniversary of the Balikatan exercises in Basilan last year, the people welcomed the visiting U.S. troops as heroes.  

In all these places, the US troops and their Filipino counterparts were met with nothing less than the most enthusiastic welcome from the local populace.    

In fact, there are areas in the Muslim south which - far from rallying against the presence of foreign troops in their midst - are actually volunteering to host Balikatan exercises!  For example, in a public rally on March 25 last year, Mayor Omar Solitario Ali of Marawi City stated that “Marawi is very much willing to host any future RP-US Joint Military Exercises should other Muslim areas in Mindanao refuse to hold it.”       

Except, it seems there are no such Muslim areas in Mindanao that refuse or have refused to host these activities!   They all see the positive benefits of these exercises.     

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, a dear friend of the Philippines , expressed this sentiment during his visit to this country last August.   He told the President that he was quite touched when he saw both Christian and Muslim Filipinos in Zamboanga, cheering on U.S. troops and waving the flags of both countries. The Senator had this to say on RP-US joint cooperation: “that collaboration, working together under the guidance and leadership of the Philippine armed forces, has played great dividends.”  

And we are certain that this year’s Balikatan exercises will continue to build on such successes from the recent past.  

Indeed, in both the war on terrorism and the war on poverty, we have achieved significant and hard-earned victories.    

Of course, our partnership has faced, and will continue to face, a number of challenges.  

Nevertheless, we shall continue to take heart in the knowledge that our bilateral relationship is one “based on a deep affection between our peoples and shared democratic values.” (Ambassador Kenney)  

This is a partnership, which, according to President Arroyo, has been “elevated to a level of maturity” as it is one anchored on mutual recognition of sovereign equality and on mutual respect.  

Indeed, the RP-US partnership for peace and security, as well as progress and development, is definitely stronger than ever.  

These are the sentiments, which inspire us today, as we salute both our Armed Forces on their civic and humanitarian projects under Balikatan 07.  

God bless America . Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. END

/jay

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