The ongoing Balikatan military exercise involving Filipino and American troops was treated to an air show after 251 special operations forces parachutists conducted a friendship jump.
The jump, part of the combined interoperability activities, was executed by military free faller and airborne-qualified troops from special operations forces both from the US and Philippine militaries.
Military spokesman Col. Jorry Baclor said the 51 Filipino and American free fallers and 200 static line airborne parachuted toward the Drop Zone Royce located at Barangay Mapalad in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
Baclor said the jumpers leapt from two US MC130 aircraft while civilian and military observers watched in an event aimed at enhancing the individual, unit, joint and combined SOF (Special Operations Forces) airborne capabilities.
Meanwhile, in Cagayan combined US and Philippine troops are building classrooms at the Masi Elementary School, Rizal, Cagayan under the engineering civic action project (ENCAP), which is still part of the Balikatan exercise.
Baclor said the 7 meter by 16 meter classrooms will provide additional room of learning for students in the Municipality of Rizal.
Three other sites have also been identified for the ENCAP and these are Taggat Sur Elementary School and Pinas Elementary School, both in Claveria, Cagayan, and San Francisco Elementary School in Alicia, Isabela.